Grand Prix gives Lennon a second Third at five-star Geneva

THE Credit Suisse Grand Prix gave Irish show jumper Dermott Lennon his second third place at Geneva’s five-star event in Switzerland tonight (Friday).

Banbridge-born Lennon took his first third in the opening Two-Phase competition at the Swiss show on Thursday night with Keonan Stables’s bay gelding Hallmark Elite in a competition won by Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet and the stallion Etoile M.

Tonight’s bigger class saw a substantial 18 combinations qualify for the jump-off, with Lennon piloting Judith Sossick’s consistent Irish Sport Horse Loughview Lou Lou, and Mayo’s Cameron Hanley also qualifying on Eleonore Paschoud and Yves Bouvier’s gelding Antello Z.

Lennon came closest to victory, picking up 25,000 euro for a jump-off time that saw him come within a second of catching American winner Kent Farrington and the grey gelding Willow, who took the first prize of 55,000 euro.

Hanley claimed 7,500 euro for a sixth place, also posting a double clear round.

Geneva’s main event, the Rolex Grand Prix, takes place on Sunday afternoon, and boasts a total prize fund of 500,000 euro.

BREEDING:

Loughview Lou-Lou (ISH) – 2002 bay mare by Limmerick (HOLST) out of Loughview Diamond Lucy (ISH), by Jack Of Diamonds (ID). Owner/Bred by Judith Sossick, Co. Armagh. Rider: Dermott Lennon (IRL)