Lennon Triumphant in Portuguese Grand Prix

Dermot Lennon

RIDING the Irish Sport Horse gelding Corbeagh Luxor, former World Show Jumping Champion Dermott Lennon won the three-star Vilamoura Grand Prix in Portugal by recording the only double clear round of the contest today (Sunday).

Forty-four year old Lennon, from Co. Down, won 15,000 euro for his achievement, and saw off challenges from top German rider Marc Bettinger with Quannan R and Brazilian star Bernardo Alves on Starling 7, who finished second and third respectively on first round time faults.

In Florida, meanwhile, a time fault also prevented Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney from qualifying for the jump-off in Wellington’s Suncast Jumper Classic today, but he nevertheless claimed fifth place with Carrabis Z. Offaly rider Darragh Kenny had one fence down with Quiz to finish in seventh, while Moloney’s second attempt with Alsvid also resulted in a pole on the ground, to give him eighth place.

The competition was won by Japan’s Eiken Sato with Egano van het Slogenhof, who posted one of only two double clear rounds in the class.