Paul O’Shea lands five-star podium finish in Spruce Meadows

Paul O’Shea (IRL) & Imerald van’t Voorhof
© Spruce Meadows Media/Dave Chidley

The result followed Richard Howley’s five-star success at the Global Champions Tour in Monaco

Limerick’s Paul O’Shea produced an impressive display overnight to land a podium finish last night at Spruce Meadows in Canada.

O’Shea was one of three Irish riders to finish in the top ten – he was third on board the Imerald Partners LLC and T Equestrian Farms LLC-owned Imerald Van ‘T Voorhof in the CSI5* 1.60m Pan American Cup.

American fan favourite Kent Farrington emerged victorious with Landon, while home rider Kyle Timm was second riding Candar Mail.

Darragh Kenny ended up in fifth place riding Hamrah van het Exelhof Z, owned by Heathman Farm LLC, and David Blake was tenth on Pine Hollow Farm’s Claude.

Six combinations went clear in round one, on a course that was built to Olympic capability specs, to qualify for the jump-off.

First to go in round two was Timm, who had to play the waiting game after going second in round one. Timm posted a quick clear round in the jump off with a time of 45.61 seconds. The pressure was on with the remaining jump-off riders needing a clear to even be considered for the winner’s circle.

Former world number one Farrington was the only one able to catch Timm. Him and Landon sailed over the finish line with a time of 42.36 seconds to take the victory.

O’Shea rounded out the top three with four faults in the jump off and a time of 41.07 seconds. Kenny also had four faults and finished in a time of 43.62 seconds.

Earlier in the evening, Ireland’s Richard Howley won the CSI5* 1.50m ranking class at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco.

Partnering the 14-year-old Mansini Ltd, owned by HK Horses, Howley proved too fast for a star-studded field to land the spoils.

Finishing his clear round in a time of 60.06 seconds, the Sligo native held on to top spot ahead of world number one, Sweden’s Henrick von Eckermann, in 60.22 seconds on board Dzara Dorchival.

Brazil’s Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa completed the podium, with Catch Me Marathon.