IRELAND'S Billy Twomey picked up 5,000 euro for a second place in tonight's (Friday) jump-off competition at the five-star Portuguese show in Estoril, riding Michelle Gatland's bay stallion 'Tackeray'.

Tipperary's Denis Lynch also placed fifth with Thomas Straumann's gelding 'Abbervail van het Dingeshof'.

Both Irish riders recorded clear rounds first time out and qualified for the 11 horse jump-off, but only Twomey came close to challenging the eventual winners, Brazil's Alvaro de Miranda Neto and Athina Onassis's chestnut stallion 'AD Norson', who shaded the 33 year-old Irishman by just over a second in the final round.

Twomey and Lynch are joined at Estoril's Global Champions Tour show by Jessica Kurten and Cian O'Connor, and all will be vying for position in Saturday night's 285,000 euro Portuguese Grand Prix, which will attract many of the world's top riders and horses.
 

Billy Twomey