Impressive runner-up finish for Ireland’s Darragh Kenny and Romeo in Verona World Cup

A brilliant performance from Offaly’s Darragh Kenny and the Ann Thompson-owned gelding Romeo, has seen them take runner-up spot in today’s five-star Longines FEI World Cup Grand Prix at Verona in Italy.

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Verona, Darragh Kenny (IRL) on Romeo,

Ninth to go in a 16 horse jump-off, they set a scorching time of 36.06 seconds to take the lead. The result looked like being a scriptwriters dream, with Romeo set to take victory in Verona – the City that inspired Shakespeare’s classic play Romeo and Juliet. However Britain’s Scott Brash had other ideas and he took victory with an incredible round when last to go with Hello M’lady to take the win with a time of 35.55.

Brash collected €47,500 for his victory while Kenny’s runner-up finished netted him €38,000. World No.1 Steve Guerdat (SUI) finished in third place with Alamo. Co Louth’s Mark McAuley also made it into the jump-off and would take 14th place at the finish with Vivaldi du Theil.

It has proved to be an excellent weekend for Irish riders on the World Cup circuit, with Darragh Kenny’s runner-up finish in Verona coming on the back of a superb win in Toronto (CAN) for Bertram Allen with GK Casper in the early hours of this morning.

Allen’s win moves him up to equal sixth place on the Longines FEI World Cup European league table on 20 points. Darragh Kenny collects 18 points for his runner-up finish in Verona and is now in 13th spot. The Longines FEI World Cup series moves to Stuttgart in Germany next weekend as the road to next year’s World Cup final in Las Vegas continues.

Meanwhile at Sentower Park in Belgium. Sligo’s Richard Howley claimed victory in the three-star Grand Prix. He partnered Gaesbekers Glamour Girl to the fastest clear of a 12-horse jump-off to take the top prize of €12,550.