BILLY Twomey took a third place for Ireland at the five-star Global Champions Tour in Monte Carlo this evening (Saturday), riding his own 13 year-old stallion 'Romanov'.

With ten through to the jump-off Cork-born Twomey was third last to go, and briefly held the lead with a faster round than the only other zero score at that stage, Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengsston and 'Carusso Ls La Silla'.

But the USA's Laura Kraut shaved a fiftieth of a second off the Irishman's time when second-last to go, and it just remained for local rider Philippe Rozier and 'Jadis De Toscane' to save a further half second to clinch the title.

Tipperary's Denis Lynch was tenth in the class with 'Night Train', collecting four faults with a fence down on his second round.

The 285,000 euro Global Champions' Tour Grand Prix takes place at Monte Carlo tonight (Saturday), with Ireland represented by three riders - Twomey, Lynch and Mark McAuley.

The second round can be seen on Eurosport Channel 410 at 7.30 pm tonight and also on the

Global Champions Tour website

Billy Twomey