Lynch second after thrilling finish to Leipzig Championship

IRELAND’S Denis Lynch and Thomas Straumann’s big-striding bay gelding Abbervail van het Dingeshof left the audience at Leipzig’s five-star show on tenterhooks when they recorded what looked might be the only clear round in the Championat of Leipzig jump-off this afternoon (Saturday).

One of 17 combinations through to the timed final round from a 52-strong field, the Tipperary rider not only produced a stunning turn of speed with a time of 37.95 seconds but was the first to leave all the poles standing.

Lynch remained in the lead after many challengers dropped a single pole on the difficult jump-off course, but finally local rider Christian Ahlmann and the grey gelding Aragon Z managed to go clear, clipping  less than half a second off the Irishman’s time to pick up the Volkswagen Passat first prize. Lynch earned 8,300 euro for his runner-up spot. At the finish, only six combinations managed to complete the course without jumping faults.

Sunday’s World Cup class at the German show will see 160,000 euro on offer in prize money.

Denis Lynch and Abbervail van het Dingeshof