Kerins wins US jump-off, Swail second at Mannheim

  • 17 July 2015, 11:14

IRELAND’S Darragh Kerins last night (Thursday) won the Suncast Welcome jump-off at the three-star show in Tryon, North Carolina, with Richie Moloney claiming sixth place.

Sligo-born Kerins rode the French-bred Thunder D’Amaury to a double clear round, one of five from a starting field of 27, and collected 10,000 euro for his win.

Kerins said afterwards of the gelding, which he’s been riding for just six months: “”In the first round today everything just came up right and rode perfectly. I just felt with it today and he was perfect. He’s only eight, but I truly believe that he’s the best horse I’ve ever had and I’ve had some very special horses.

“He just has everything already at such a young age and sometimes I wonder if I’m asking too much too early, but he handles everything with such confidence.”

Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney and Carrabis Z narrowly missed the jump-off as they were the only combination to collect a single time fault in their clear first round. Moloney was also fifth on the opening day’s 1m50 speed class at Tryon with Elouise de Muse, the competition being won by the USA’s Schuyler Riley and Dobra de Porceyo.

In Mannheim in Germany, meanwhile, Co. Down’s Conor Swail rode the ten year-old Viva Colombia to second place in yesterday’s five-star Grand Prix Qualifier, picking up 6,000 euro, while Tipperary-born Kevin Babington placed fifth with the Irish Sport Horse Mark Q. The class was won by Germany’s David Will aboard the 15 year-old Mic Mac du Tillard.

Mannheim’s Nations’ Cup will take place on Saturday, and Ireland has been drawn to jump second of eight nations competing.

Conor Swail (left) and Darragh Kerins

Conor Swail (left) and Darragh Kerins