10/07/09 THE ELITE contingent of international riders attending the Global Champions Tour at Estoril in Portugal had their first serious clash in the jump-off competition tonight (Friday), with Ireland's Cian O'Connor taking a creditable fourth place on Aileen Bryan's gelding 'Rancorrado'.

The feature class saw Dutch rider Henk van de Pol and 'Rhodos' laying down an intimidating finish in the eight horse jump-off, outpacing German runner-up Marco Kutscher on 'Cornet Obolensky' by over five seconds.

Meath-based O'Connor, though, recorded one of just four double clear rounds achieved in the contest, which saw 41 combinations line out for the five-star Prix Estoril trophy.

The show's Grand Prix takes place on Saturday night.