Two Weekend Grand Prix Fourths for Ireland

Michael Hutchinson, riding the bay stallion Le Roi 10, took his top five finish at the three star show at Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, while Derry-born Trevor Coyle claimed his fourth place today (Sunday) in the weekend's other three-star event, at Drachten in the Netherlands, aboard the bay mare Carlina IV.

Abu Dhabi also saw Irish Olympic Bronze Medallist Cian O'Connor claim a Grand Prix seventh place with Unique after a single mistake in the jump-off, while Marion Hughes and the Irish Sport Horse HHS Pinky took equal tenth after bringing a rail down in the first round. The competition was won by Turkey's Omer Karaevli and Dadjak ter Puttennen.

O'Connor finished in second place on Unique in Abu Dhabi's Welcome Stakes on Thursday, just failing to catch Mohammed Ghanem Al Hajri from the United Arab Emirates, riding Murtajiz al Hawajer.

At Drachten, 17 year-old Bertram Allen and Molly Malone V finished 12th in the Grand Prix when dislodging three poles in the jump-off, while Australia's Amy Graham collected the 10,000 euro first prize with a double clear on the grey stallion Bella Baloubet.

In Switzerland, Tipperary's Denis Lynch had a 12th place in the five-star Basel Grand Prix today with All Star, collecting four faults in the second round, with Portugal's Luciana Diniz and Lennox taking home the 125,000 euro first prize after three clear rounds.

Lynch had a third place with All Star in Friday's Grand Prix qualifier, losing out to Germany's Ludger Beerbaum and Chaman by just under three seconds.