Irish Aga Khan duo finish on the podium in London’s Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix

Two members of Ireland’s Aga Khan team for next week’s Dublin Horse Show finished on the podium in today’s €300,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of London, with Cork’s Shane Sweetnam taking runner-up spot, just ahead of his Irish team mate, Offaly’s Darragh Kenny in third.

(l-r) Shane Sweetnam, Ben Maher and Darragh Kenny stand on the podium following the London GCT Grand Prix (Photo: Stefano Grasso)

A dozen combinations made it into the jump-off with Sweetnam taking the early lead with Alejandro – a 10-year-old gelding whom Sweetnam will take to the forthcoming European Championships. Sweetnam’s clear in a time of 37.44 saw him put pressure on those who followed and he eventually would take second spot behind Britain’s Ben Maher who won on home soil with Explosion W in a time of 35.98. Third place on the podium went to Offaly’s Darragh Kenny who was last to go with Classic Dream and crossed the line clear in 37.62.

Winner Ben Maher has already qualified for the end of season Super League Grand Prix final, so Shane Sweetnam takes the London qualifying place while Darragh Kenny is also qualified having won Chantilly.

The London leg of the Global Champions League on Saturday afternoon saw Wexford’s Bertram Allen help Valkenswaard United to a runner-up finish after he jumped clear with GK Casper. Tipperary’s Denis Lynch was part of the New York Empire team that finished third, with Lynch jumping a clear round with GC Chopin’s Bushi. Victory went to the London Knight’s duo of Ben Maher and Oliver Philippaerts.

Darragh Kenny was part of the Paris Panthers team that finished sixth and Kenny’s brilliant round with Balou du Reventon saw him take victory in the individual 1m55 competition.