Irish Riders claim one victory and two International Grand Prix seconds

TIPPERARY’S Thomas Ryan and 17 year-old Bertram Allen from Wexford claimed Grand Prix second places in Denmark and Germany today (Sunday), while 14 year-old Waterford rider Jessica Harty took first place in the Children on Horses Grand Prix in Deauville, France.

Twenty-eight year old Ryan was one of 12 through to the jump off at Copenhagen, riding Laura Nina Aschwanden’s Irish Sport Horse Cruise on Clover, but finished one-and-a-half seconds off the pace of Dutch rider Jur Vrieling with Zirocco Blue Vdl. Ryan collected 5,400 euro for his runner-up spot, while Vrieling pocketed 6,700 euro.

Ireland’s Mark McAuley also had a second place in the final competition of the show, the Brogaarden Cup, riding Isco de Amoranda.

At Norten Hardenburg’s Grand Prix in Germany, Bertram Allen posted the fastest jump-off time aboard Billy Twomey’s stallion Romanov, but forfeited his chance of taking the 12,500 euro trophy when dropping a single pole in the process. First place went to the only combination in the class to record a double clear round, Germany’s Lars Nieberg, riding Leonie W.

Ireland’s Olympic bronze medallist Cian O’Connor, who had a win at Norten Hardenburg with Unique on Saturday, took third place with the same horse in the last competition of the week, today’s jump-off class.

At Deauville in France, the Children on Horses Grand Prix saw an Irish victory, with Waterford’s Jessica Harty and the Irish Sport Horse Young Limerick winning comfortably on a double clear round with almost three seconds in hand over Belgian runner-up Maverick van Lent and Cointreau Z. Jessica’s brother Tommy was a member of the 2011 European Children’s Gold Medal team in 2011.

BREEDING:
Cruise On Clover (ISH) – 2000 grey gelding by Cruising (ISH) out of Ballinakill Clover (ID), by Clover Hill (ID C1). Bred by Dr Noel Cawley, Newpark Lodge Stud, Eadestown, Naas, Co. Kildare. Owner: Laura Nina Aschwanden. Rider: Thomas Ryan (IRL)

Young Limerick (ISH) – 1999 chestnut mare by Ballinvella Lad (TB) out of Limerick (ISH). Bred by Kildalton Agricultural College, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Helen Harty. Rider: Jessica Harty (IRL)