Shane Breen and Compelling Z take victory in thrilling Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping Masters live on RTE TV

Live Show Jumping returned to Irish television screens tonight (Friday), as the Horse Sport Ireland Masters served up a thrilling competing to RTE viewers across the nation and around the world on the RTE Player.

The Christmas-themed event attracted a host of Ireland’s top stars along with athletes from Britain, Canada and the Middle East. The 30 starting riders knew before the competition that only the top eight combinations would be going forward to the second round.

Shane Breen on Compelling Z is presented with the trophy by Horse Sport Ireland acting CEO Joe Reynolds after winning the Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping Masters at Emerald International Equestrian Centre. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

A clear second round in 41.44 seconds saw Breen and the Carmel and Dermott Ryan-owned and bred stallion Compelling Z claim victory. Along with taking the lions share of the €20,000 prize fund, the Tipperary rider drove away in a new Overlander 2-stall Horse Truck.

Shane Breen and Compelling Z on their way to victory in the Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping Masters (Photo: Laurence Dunne/jumpinaction.net)

Second place went to former World Champion Dermott Lennon from Co Down with L’Esprit Hero Z when clear in 42.54. Another Tipperary rider, Denis Lynch, took third spot with GC Chopin’s Bushi, owned by Onyx Consulting Ltd with a clear as last to go in 42.58. Lynch arrived home to Ireland in a rich vein of form having claimed a big win at Reisenbeck in Germany just a week ago.

Sligo’s Richard Howley and Arlo De Blondel finished fourth in 39.78, while Carlow’s Jason Foley took the leading Young Rider prize when fifth with The Irish Sport Horse (YR) Castlefield Vegas.

The Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping Masters was sponsored by Devenish, Showjumping Ireland, The Underwriting Exchange, GAIN and Overlander.