Two top tens for O’Connor at Olympia

IRISH Olympic bronze medallist Cian O’Connor scored two top ten finishes at the big Christmas show in Olympia, London today (Friday), taking a fifth place in the afternoon’s Winning Round class and a ninth in tonight’s jump-off competition.

Meath-based O’Connor brought out one of his new horses, the grey gelding Crespo Pkz, for the afternoon class, and was one of just seven to make it through to the second round on a zero score. However, one fence down left him in fifth place, with the winner’s trophy going to Britain’s Guy Williams with the stallion Golddigger.

In the later jump-off competition, the Irish rider again brought out one of his newer horses, the bay gelding Super Sox, and though one of only nine from a starting field of 27 to record a double clear round, a slow time in a tightly-fought jump off left him in ninth overall. The competition was won by Britain’s Jessica Mendoza with the 14 year-old Spirit T, who stopped the clock three seconds faster than O’Connor.

The six-day Olympia show runs through until Monday, with the World Cup class scheduled for Sunday afternoon, and the Olympia Grand Prix taking place the following night.

Other Irish riders featuring at Olympia include Bertram Allen, Trevor Breen and Anthony Condon.

Cian O’Connor and Super Sox