IRISH riders claimed the weekend's richest two prizes in world show jumping when Cork's Billy Twomey won the Amsterdam Grand Prix this afternoon (Sunday), half an hour after Jessica Kurten had triumphed in the German World Cup Qualifier in Leipzig.

Sharing a total of over 60,000 euro in prize money between them, the Irish duo also dramatically improved their world ranking points, with Kurten jumping to second place in the Rolex World Cup European rankings.

Thirty-two year-old Twomey was one of just six to make it through to the jump-off at Amsterdam's four-star Grand Prix, and produced a surprise win on Sue Davies's ten year-old stallion 'Je t'Aime Flamenco', who has only recently returned to the international circuit after a long injury lay-off. The win also helped net him the show's Leading Rider Award, yielding a further 10,000 euro in prize money.

Kurten also rode a horse only recently regaining its form after injury, the talented mare 'Castle Forbes Libertina'.

Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping Team Manager Robert Splaine said afterwards: "This has been another fantastic weekend for Irish show jumping - winning the two biggest prizes on offer in the world. We had superb results last weekend with the Basel Grand Prix victory and the World Cup Qualifier win in America, but to repeat it this weekend with two more results at the very highest level of the sport must give us every confidence for the year ahead."

Twomey himself added: "I'm delighted to have the horse back winning at this level. Big thanks are due to longterm owner Sue Davies, for all her patience and support."