Brilliant podium finish for Louth’s Mark McAuley as Irish shine in Spanish World Cup

Co Louth’s Mark McAuley and the 13-year-old gelding Miebello scored an excellent third place finish in tonight’s (Saturday) five-star Longines FEI World Cup Grand Prix at Madrid in Spain, where Irish riders were in superb form securing three places in the jump-off.

Mark McAuley and Miebello take their place in the prize giving after a brilliant third place finish in the Longines FEI World Cup in Madrid

McAuley has enjoyed a phenomenal year so far in 2017, playing a key role in Ireland’s Nations Cup campaign and winning the Lyon Grand Prix at the start of November.

McAuley and the Eva Lundin-owned Miebello were third to go in an 18 horse jump-off in Madrid, which was hosting the sixth round of the 2017/2018 FEI World Cup series. They took the lead with a scorching clear round in 42.68 seconds, before being overtaken by Flying Frenchman Roger Yves Bost with Sydney Une Prince  – who shaved half-a-second off the Irish riders’ target. Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels and Cas de Liberte crossed the line one hundredth of a second faster than McAuley near the end of the jump-off to take runner-up spot.

Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and his European Championship team gold medal winning stallion All Star also made it into the jump-off. They were last to go against the clock and lowered the very last fence to finish 13th. An excellent evening for the Irish also saw Mayo’s Cameron Hanley jump clear in the first round and he eventually finished 15th with Quirex  – who was the youngest horse in the competition at just eight-years-old.

Along with collecting over €23,000 for his third place finish, Mark McAuley has climbed to fourth place on the Longines FEI World Cup league table and is now in with a great chance of making it to his first ever World Cup Final. Tipperary’s Denis Lynch is also well positioned in 11th place as the series moves to La Coruna in Spain for round seven on December 10th.