Three Irish in top four as Longines Grand Prix of Ireland goes to Switzerland

Swiss rider Edouard Schmitz and the 10-year-old Gamin Van’t Naastveldhof have claimed victory in today’s (Sunday) Longines Grand Prix of Ireland to close out the 2022 Dublin Horse Show.

Ireland’s Conor Swail and Count Me In (Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile)

Irish riders filled three of the top four places with two of Ireland’s Aga Khan hero’s from Friday finishing in the top three. Conor Swail and Count Me In finished as runners-up, just ahead of Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz (ISH) in third. Fourth place went to Galway’s Andrew Bourns with Sea Topblue (ISH) while French rider Megane Moissonnier completed the top five with Cordial.

Rhys Williams and Playboy JT Z (Photo: Laurence Dunne/Jumpinaction)

Earlier, Ireland’s Rhys Williams and the 7-year-old Playboy JT Z were crowned winners in the International 7 & 8 year-old competition sponsored by LHK Insurance at the RDS. Second place went to Denis Lynch and Dark Chocolate, while Jason Higgins and Heritage MBF finished third.

Mikey Pender and HHS Rose pictured with HSI CEO Denis Duggan and Sonja Egan, HSI head of breeding, innovation and development (Photo: Laurence Dunne/Jumpinaction)

Mikey Pender rounded off an incredible week for the Kildare rider by taking another win, this time with HHS Rose in the six-year-old ‘Cruising’ National Championship sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland.

Leah Stack and Laurina, (Photo: Laurence Dunne/Jumpinaction)

Leah Stack and Laurina, owned and bred by Noel Cawley, were winners of the 5-Year-Old ‘Flexible’ National Championship, sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland.

EUROPEAN SILVER MEDAL KRIS ROHRSSEN

Kris Rohrssen celebrates a European silver medal win (Photos: Anna Husges)

Meanwhile in mainland Europe, there was another glorious European medal win for an Irish athlete. Tipperary’s Kris Rohrssen and Checkmate won the Silver Medal at the FEI European Driving Championship for Junior’s (U18) single pony class at Kisbér-Ászár in Hungary. The was the first year that Kris was competing in this class and at 15-years old was up against experienced Driving athletes from across Europe. In 2021, Kris Rohrssen and his pony Checkmate won the Gold Medal in the FEI European Carriage Driving Championships for U14 (Children) in Selestat, France.

BREEDING

James Kann Cruz (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Kannan out of CSF Telly Cruz by Cruising, bred by Patrick Connolly owned by Gizmo partners LLC. Ridden by Shane Sweetnam.

Sea Topblue (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Chacco Blue (MECKL) out of Sea Top Lady (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN). Breeders: James & John Meade, Co. Clare. Owner: Andrew Bourns & QBS Equestrian. Rider: Andrew Bourns (IRL).

Full results from the 2022 Dublin Horse Show available HERE