Darragh Kenny shines in five-star Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny was in top form at the five-star Global Champions Tour fixture in Madrid, Spain on Saturday, securing no less than three podium finishes in one afternoon.

Darragh Kenny and VDL Cartello (Photo: Stefano Grasso/GCL)

Riding the 14-year-old stallion VDL Cartello, Kenny began the day by taking a runner-up finish in the Grupo Eulen Trophy 1m55, which was also part of the Madrid Global Champions League. The result also helped Kenny’s Shanghai Swans to a third place finish in what was the second round this year of the Global Champions League.

Kenny and VDL Cartello, who is owned by Lorcan Gallagher and Heathman Farm, then took their place in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix – a competition which would see just two clears in the first round. Kenny looked like he would be the third rider to jump clear however the very last fence fell to the floor. Kenny’s fast time however would see him finish best of the four-fault scores to secure third place on the podium.

Scott Brash (GBR), Olivier Robert (FRA), and Darragh Kenny (IRL) share the podium following the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos/Oxer Sport)

French rider Olivier Robert with Vivaldi des Meneaux and Britain’s Scott Brash with Hello Jefferson went head to head in the jump-off to decide the winner. Both jumped clear again against the clock with Robert coming out on top for his first ever Global Champions Tour Grand Prix win. Wexford’s Bertram Allen was also among the prizes when taking ninth place with Harley vd Bisschop, while Cian O’Connor finished just outside the top ten with The Irish Sport Horse Kilkenny.