Equestrian - Shane Breen and Golden Hawk take runner-up spot in Longines Grand Prix of Ireland

Tipperary's Shane Breen and Golden Hawk finished as runners-up in the €200,000 Longines Grand Prix of Ireland, while Cian O’Connor and Good Luck took fourth place as the Dublin Horse drew to a thrilling finale at the RDS today (Sunday).

Just four combinations managed to jump clear over a testing first round course and Breen, with the 11-year-old stallion Golden Hawk, finished as one of just two double clear rounds.

America’s Audrey Coulter was first to go against the clock and left to door open when knocking a single fence with Capital Colnardo, to eventually take third place on the podium.

Breen was next in with the P. Sultan & Breen Equestrian-owned Golden Hawk and they kept all the fences standing in 48.07 seconds to take the lead. 

Italy’s Lorenzo De Luca then overtook the Irishman with a brilliant clear round from Ensor de Litrange Lxii, knocking half a second off the target (47.44), in what would prove the winning round.

Cian O’Connor was last to go with Good Luck and looked to be up on the clock heading to the second last fence. However their chances ended when they failed to negotiate a tight turn, although they have the consolation of an excellent fourth place finish.

Co Down’s Dermott Lennon also finished inside the top 10, taking seventh place with the Irish Sport Horse mare Loughview Lou-Lou.

Speed Stakes

Earlier Irish riders dominated the Speed Championship at the RDS , filling all of the top four places.

Cork-born Shane Sweetnam scorched to victory with the 15-year-old Cyklon. He finished a 10th of a second faster than Billy Twomey and The Irish Sport Horse Ardcolum Duke.

World No.9 Bertram Allen slotted into third with Quiet Easy 4, while Capt Geoff Curran finished fourth with Shannondale Rahona.

International 7 & 8 year-olds

Sunday’s opening international class saw Michael Pender finish as the best-placed Irish rider in the Connolly’s Red Mills 7 & 8-year-old class with the Irish Sport Horse HHS Hercules. Philip McGuane finished fourth with LVS Wizard (ISH), just ahead of Neal Fearon in fifth with Billy On Time. 

Lauren Hough took the winners prize for The Unites States Hough with the eight-year-old mare Lady Davos. They were one of six combinations who made it through to the jump-off where they produced the winning double clear round in 41.86 seconds.

Horse Sport Ireland Young Horse Championships

Co Tyrone’s Peter Smyth and the Kathryn O’Hagan-owned Irish Sport Horse mare CHS Krooze, won the six-year-old ‘Cruising’ National Championship sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland.

In the five-year-old ‘Flexible’ National Championship sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland, Micheal Pender took the winners prize with The Irish Sport Horse mare, Z Seven Canya Dance.