AN Irish rider again finished in the top ten of the Rolex World Cup Series when Cork's Billy Twomey placed seventh today in the second leg at Helsinki in Finland, riding Tracey Forrest's chestnut stallion Romanov II.

Twomey, who had been forced to retire during the initial leg at Oslo last week when his horse's martingale broke during the first round, was one of nine through to the jump-off this afternoon from a starting field of 37, and finished seventh on four faults.

Points gained today now put the 34 year-old in equal 12th place on the World Cup leaderboard for the 2011/2012 series.

Tipperary's Denis Lynch, who finished fifth in Oslo last week and is now tenth in the overall ranking, was less fortunate today when recording four faults in the first round on Hans-Helmut Bauer's Lord Luis, while Cian O'Connor retired his new mount Carpe Diem after having three fences down.

Switzerland's Pius Schwizer won the Helsinki World Cup class with the bay mare Calina on a double clear, repeating their victory at Oslo and now topping the table on 40 points.

The next leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Series takes place in Lyon, France next week.

Billy Twomey