CORK'S Billy Twomey picked up the first of the 900,000 euro on offer in prize money this week at Aachen's big five-star show in Germany today (Tuesday) when he claimed two top ten places.

Netting 2,550 euro for his first day's work, Twomey also put a creditable marker down when placing fifth in the Grand Prix Qualifier on 'Tinka's Serenade', and also took an eighth with 'Tackeray' in the show's opening competition.

Twomey is joined at Aachen by some of Ireland's top riders and horses, who will form the team doing battle in Thursday night's critical German Nations' Cup on one of the world's most testing jumping courses.

Team Ireland Equestrian's Show Jumping manager Robert Splaine will tomorrow select four from his five-strong squad of Twomey, Shane Breen, Dermott Lennon, Denis Lynch and Cian O'Connor, and will be hoping for a top three finish against the world's other top ten teams to pull Ireland clear of the relegation zone in the Meydan Superleague, where they currently lie in sixth place.

With only Hickstead and Dublin left in the 2010 Meydan calendar, points gained at Aachen could well determine whether Ireland stays amongst the global elite of show jumping, or is downgraded to the Promotional League for 2011.
 

Billy Twomey