Stunning five-star win for Cork’s Billy Twomey as he claims €200,000 Longines Falsterbo Grand Prix in Sweden – His third win in 24 hours

An amazing run of results for Cork’s Billy Twomey has continued this afternoon (Friday), after he produced a magnificent performance to win the €200,000 Longines Falsterbo five-star Grand Prix in Sweden – making it three wins for the Irish rider in the space of 24 hours.

Twomey and the Kim Barzilay-owned gelding Kimba Flamenco produced the first clear on the Grand Prix and they were joined in a 12-horse jump-off by fellow Irish rider Mark McAuley with Jasco V Bisschop. McAuley looked to be heading into the lead when seventh to go in the jump-off. However the last fence fell to the floor and they would finish in fifth place with four faults in 54.40.

Twomey was at his brilliant best against the clock and guided Kimba Flamenco to a perfect clear in 55.80 to take the lead. He had a nervous wait to see had he done enough – not least from last to go Irma Karlsson (SWE) and Ida Van De Bisschop who crossed the line just .09 of a second behind the Irishman to finish second. Twomey collected €66,000 for his victory while McAuley pocketed €12,000 for finishing fifth.

Twomey had already come out on top in Thursday’s curtain-raising 1m45 speed class with the Joe Flynn-owned Irish Sport Horse Ardcolum Duke, and they added a second win in Friday morning’s Derby Qualifier. They finished clear in 70.15 seconds, fractionally ahead of Derry’s Daniel Coyle who completed an Irish 1-2 by finishing second with Farona (70.24). Wexford’s Bertram Allen also took fourth place for Ireland with Christy Jnr in 73.27.

Mark McAuley had added to the Irish domination in Falsterbo by winning Thursday’s 1m50 speed class with Jasco V Bisschop ahead of Limerick’s Paul O’Shea with Skara Glens Presence in second.

Twomey, McAuley and O’Shea are all part of Rodrigo Pessoa’s Irish squad for Sunday’s Longines FEI Nations Cup in Falsterbo and are joined by Daniel Coyle and Bertram Allen

The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by Devenish and The Underwriting Exchange
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