Twomey Qualifies For Last Day Of World Cup Show Jumping Final
Though incurring eight faults in tonight's (Saturday) second leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final at Lyon in France, Ireland's Billy Twomey and Sue Davies's mare Tinka's Serenade are still guaranteed a slot in Easter Monday's first leg of the competition's last rounds.
Finishing eighth after Friday's speed class, the Irish combination stands in equal 17th position on the 38-strong leaderboard after tonight's round. The top 30 riders qualify for Monday's first round of the final competition, with the 20 best-placed riders going through to the last round, where the winner will be decided.
Ireland's show jumping manager Robert Splaine said tonight: "I am very pleased to see that Billy Twomey is in a qualifying position for Monday's first leg of the World Cup Final's last competition. It is a great honour for any country to be represented at the Final, and Billy Twomey and Tinka's Serenade achieved that by qualifying Ireland this year. Sue Davies's mare has been a great servant to Ireland and the Irish team for many years and it is perhaps appropriate that Tinka is flying the Irish flag at Lyon this weekend, at one of the world's most prestigious events."
Switzerland's Steve Guerdat and France's Patrice Delaveau currently lead the rankings in joint first place after two days of competition.