Darragh Kenny and Abbie Sweetnam score Irish wins in France and Italy

Darragh Kenny completed an excellent run of results at the French three-star show in Montpellier, with victory in today’s 1m55 Grand Prix riding Go Easy De Muze who is owned by the McCahill family.

Darragh Kenny and Go Easy De Muze in the prize giving ceremony following victory in the Montpellier Grand Prix

Offaly-born Kenny and the 11-year-old gelding Go Easy De Muze (Vigo d’Arsouilles) were one of seven combinations who made it into the jump-off and produced what proved an unbeatable clear in a time of 40.92. French riders filled the remaining top places, with Guillaume Batillat finishing closest to the Irish winner with Denitha (41.78), while Axel van Colen took third place with Silhouette Island (43.77). The victory was Kenny’s third win of the weekend at the French venue.

Abbie Sweetnam lands Verona Pony Grand Prix to complete superb double at Italian venue

Cork’s Abbie Sweetnam and Dynamite Spartacus (ISH) have scored their second win of the weekend at Verona’s World Cup show, this time taking the feature 1m30 Pony Grand Prix in stunning fashion at the Italian venue.

The pair (pictured right) had come out on top in Saturday’s speed class in Verona and they maintained their form in Sunday’s curtain-closer, jumping clear in 30.47 seconds in the eight pony jump-off to take the top prize.

Second place went to Molly Hughes Bravo for Portugal riding Carrickaduff Pet (ISH), just eight hundredths of a second slower. Kilkenny’s Seamus Hughes-Kennedy took third place on the podium with Cuffesgrange Cavalidam (ISH), while Charlotte Houston also filled fourth place for Ireland with Lea du Genier.