Five-star French victory for Ireland’s Mark McAuley while Co Clare’s Eoin McMahon wins in The Netherlands

Co Louth’s Mark McAuley and the Nicole Mordasini-owned mare Jacintha v. Kriekenhof have taken victory in today’s (Saturday) 1m45 speed class at the five-star World Cup show in Bordeaux, France. They crossed the line clear in 58.24 seconds to finish half-a-second ahead of Germany’s Michael Jung in second with Fischerdaily Impressed, while Wexford’s Bertram Allen took third place with GK Casper (58.97).

Mark McAuley and Jacintha v. Kriekenhof (Photo: Sportfot)

Meanwhile on Friday night at Peelbergen three-star show in The Netherlands, Co Clare’s Eoin McMahon recorded a superb win with Chacon in the 1m50 Milestone Farm Prize. Drawn second last to go, McMahon and the 13-year-old gelding snatched the win from Leopold van Asten (NED) with VDL Groep Miss Untouchable who had been in the lead.

Eoin McMahon and Chacon (Photo: Eva Van Den Adel/Winter Masters)

“To be honest I thought I had no chance to catch Leopold,” McMahon said after the class. “I just tried to do my own round and go as fast as I could with my horse, and everything just worked out so smooth. I could not really believe that I was faster. I thought I did a good round, but I know Leopold’s mare is crazy quick so I thought the clock must be broken or something!” laughed the 23-year-old Irish rider.

“My boss Ludger Beerbaum rode the horse before and had a lot of success with him in five-star Grand Prix classes. Then Philipp Weishaupt took him over, and he also won some good classes with him like the Speed Challenge in Hong Kong. So, I was very lucky that I got him when I came to Ludger last summer – he has been such a good horse for me,” McMahon said.