Twomey equal first in Birmingham Five Fence Challenge, Breen brothers in Grandstand Trophy top five

BILLY Twomey gave Ireland its first international win this week at the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham, England today (Friday) when he shared first place in the Five Fence Challenge competition, aboard Terry Payne’s bay gelding Diaghilev.

The Cork rider was one of three to collect ten points in all four rounds, adding 3,000 euro to his prize money at the three-star show. Twomey shared the honours with Britain’s Helen Treadwell on Sebastian VII and Michael Whitaker with Quelbora Merze.

Ireland’s Anthony Condon also took fourth on Kat Taylor’s Balzac.

Brothers Trevor and Shane Breen at one stage looked like claiming the top two places in the final  round of tonight’s Grandstand Trophy at Birmingham, but in the end had to settle for fourth and fifth places.

Trevor Breen took an early lead in the speed round with Karen Swann’s chestnut stallion Classic, and saw brother Shane come home just under a second behind him with IN Showjumpers Ltd.’s 11 year-old gelding Undicci, but both were eventually overtaken, with the winner’s trophy finally going to France’s in-form Julien Epaillard with Cristallo A LM.

Birmingham’s signature competition, the Leading Show Jumper of the Year, takes place on Sunday night in the city’s National Exhibition Centre.

Billy Twomey