WITH one of his by now characteristic high-speed finishes, Ireland's Billy Twomey scooped the first prize in tonight's Barcelona Grand Prix with a four-second lead over his nearest challenger and racked up his third win of the weekend at the five-star show.

Pocketing 10,000 euro in cash and a brand new Seat Exeo car for his efforts tonight, the 33 year-old Cork rider guided Sue Davies's bay stallion 'Je t'Aime Flamenco' through two rounds, picking up four faults in the first but going clear in the second to claim the trophy, relegating Denmark's Karina Ri Truelsen to the runner-up spot with 'Lord If De Chalousse'.

The Barcelona Grand Prix was abandoned shortly after its scheduled Friday night start due to heavy rain, but recommenced tonight with the first round held in the Real Club de Polo's sand arena and the second in its Olympic arena.

Twomey is the third Irish rider to win the Barcelona Grand Prix in recent times, with Paul Darragh and 'Cera' taking the trophy in 1996, and Jessica Kurten with 'Castle Forbes Cosma' in 2009.

Twomey, one of Ireland's World Equestrian Games show jumping team members, has had a notable weekend in Barcelona, winning the show's opening speed class with a scorching finish on Michael Connaghton's Irish-bred mare 'Cavinem', and repeating the magic with the same horse in Friday's Accumulator competition.
 

Billy Twomey