IRISH RIDERS DOMINATE AT BRIDGEHAMPTON’S WORLD CUP EVENT

IRISH show jumpers stamped their mark all over the four-star Hampton Classic in the US this weekend, culminating in a 62,000 euro win by Tipperary’s Kevin Babington in the World Cup Grand Prix this evening (Sunday).

Babington, riding the nine year-old mare Shorapur, showed a clean pair of heels to the USA’s Brianne Goutal and Nice de Prissey, the only other combination to go clear in the four horse jump-off.

Third place in the Grand Prix went to Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney and Freestyle de Muze, who had one fence down in the final round.

Meanwhile Offaly’s Darragh Kenny and Picolo walked away with Saturday’s Longines Cup, accompanied by Babington and the Irish Sport Horse Mark Q in fourth place and Limerick’s Paul O’Shea in fifth aboard Skara Glen’s Sienna. Richie Moloney also took sixth place with Carrabis Z, which helped him win the show’s 30,000 US dollar Longines Rider Challenge Final on 300 points. Darragh Kenny was second in the table on 200 points.

Moloney also took fourth place in Friday’s Grand Prix Qualifier with a double clear round on Freestyle de Muze, just ahead of Cork’s Shane Sweetnam and Venturo 9 in fifth, and just behind Tyrone’s Ronan McGuigan and Capall Zidane in third. The Qualifier was won by the USA’s Molly Ashe-Cawley and Carissimo.

Kevin Babington and Shorapur winning at Bridgehampton today. Picture: Shawn McMillen