Unstoppable Darragh Kenny storms to victory at Global Champions Tour in Shanghai

A stunning performance from Offaly’s Darragh Kenny and Charly Chaplin S, saw them beat a top class line-up to win today’s five-star jump-off class on the opening day of the Global Champions Tour show at Shanghai in China.

A massive 19 combinations managed to make it through to the jump-off, however none could match the clear round in 38.87 seconds that Kenny produced to take the winners prize of over €50,000. Charly Chaplin S (pictured above), who is normally ridden by his owner Kerry Anne McCahill, is a 10-year-old gelding by the sire Harley VDL.

Germany’s David Will and the 17-year-old Cruising-sired mare Mic Mac du Tillard finished as runners-up, two tenths of a second ahead of the Irish winner, while Belgium’s Jos Verloy took third place on the podium with Caracas.

The opening round of today’s competition also counted as the first round of the Shanghai Global Champions League, with Kenny and Charly Chaplin S jumping clear for Paris Panthers. His team-mate Jack Towell (USA) riding New York, also jumped clear, to leave Paris Panthers as one of three teams on a zero score heading into Saturday’s second round. Wexford’s Bertram Allen and Molly Malone lowered one fence for Valkenswaard United. Team mate Alberto Zorzi (ITA) also finished with four faults aboard Fair Light van’t Heike, leaving Valkenswaard United on 8 faults.

Darragh Kenny had earlier scored a runner-up finish in the opening competition in Shanghai with Chanel behind Saudi Arabian winner Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami riding Garlic v. Kapelhof.

Meanwhile the Irish Show Jumping team get their 2017 Super League Nations Cup campaign underway today in Lummen. Team manager Rodrigo Pessoa has selected Dermott Lennon, Richard Howley, Paul Kennedy and Michael Duffy, who have been drawn fifth to jump of eight teams taking part. The Lummen Nations Cup begins at 3pm and is available to watch live on FEITV.