McAuley lands a double in St Tropez

Mark McAuley and the Irish Sport Horse GRS Lady Amaro winners of the Grand Prix at St Tropez
Photo: Sportfot

Louth native Mark McAuley recorded a double with the Irish Sport Horse GRS Lady Amaro in St Tropez CSI3*. This result brings the tally of top ten international placings for this combination to date in 2023 to 18.

The first victory came on Friday, winning the €26,000 1.50m ranking class. The 10-year-old mare, owned by SNC McAuley, was one of only four clear rounds in the jump-off, posting the fastest time of the day.

Brazil’s Eduardo Pereira De Menezes was second and Enrique Gonzalez completed the podium for Mexico.

On Sunday, he made it two from two, winning the 1.55m Grand Prix. McAuley was one of 10 to jump clear in the opening round and progress to the jump-off. Of these riders only five jumped clear in the timed phase. McAuley stopped the clocked in 34 seconds, over one second faster than Penelope Leprevost for France in second.

Also for the home nation, Edward Levy completed the podium in third place. Ireland claimed fourth place with Billy Twomey and Diego Del Caribe, owned by David Lecach and Clement Lefebvre.

Jordan Coyle may have been Ireland’s sole representative in the CSI3* show in Guadalajara, Mexico but he certainly made his presence known, picking up three top three placings over the course of the show.

On Friday, Coyle took second and third place the 1.50m ranking class. He was second with Ariso – a 12-year-old gelding owned by Elan Farm. This result comes on the back of international wins the CSI5* in Dublin and the CSI5* in Vancouver this summer. He was third with For Gold, owned by Falkirk Farm LLC.

His success continued on Sunday, winning the 1.50m Grand Prix with Four Gold. This is the first international victory for this combination this year.

To top off an exception weekend of top show jumping action Denis Lynch and Matt Garrigan finished second and third in the 1.45m Grand Prix at the CSI2* show in Deurne, France. Lynch partnered Hunter, owned by Parco Sport Horses EST, and Garrigan was on board Quantum Robin V, owned in partnership between BWG Stables and Sova Sporthorses GmbH.

Breeding:

GRS Lady Amaro (ISH) – 2013 mare by Amaretto Darco (BWP) out of Legal Lady (TB) by Over The River (TB). Breeder: Denis Hickey, Co. Wexford. Owner: S.n.c McAuley. Rider: Mark McAuley (IRL).