Irish Show Jumpers take One-Two-Three at Spruce Meadows

TWO Irish riders claimed the top three places in tonight’s (Thursday) jump-off competition at the five-star show in Spruce Meadows, Canada.

Co. Down-born Conor Swail piloted Susan and Ariel Grange’s mare Martha Louise into a 16,000 dollar first place in the 14 horse jump-off, but also claimed a 10,000 dollar second place with the stallion Lansdowne – also owned by the Granges – stopping the clock just over a second slower.

However, Swail was not alone at the top of the leaderboard when fellow Co. Down rider Dermott Lennon slotted Keonan Stables’s gelding Hallmark Elite into third, fractions of a second behind Lansdowne, and collecting 7,500 dollars.

The Irish duo saw off challenges from some of the world’s top riders to cement their hold on the class, and between them accounted for three of the eight double clear rounds recorded.

The Spruce Meadows “Masters’ Tournament”, which is worth over two million dollars (1.5 million euro) in prize money, runs until Sunday, with the Nations’ Cup taking place on Saturday night.