BREEN TAKES THIRD IN LA BAULE DERBY, SWEETNAM IN GRAND PRIX TOP TEN

TIPPERARY rider Shane Breen claimed third place and an 8,000 euro prize in the famous five-star La Baule Derby in France on Saturday, while fellow Munster rider Shane Sweetnam was best of the Irish with a ninth place in today's (Sunday) Grand Prix.

Breen, who helped Ireland to a joint third place with a clear round on the stallion Balloon in Friday's Nations' Cup at the French venue, rode his own mare Ominerale Courcelle on the challenging derby course, and though faster than the French winner Patrice Delaveau, had one fence down.

Delaveau, who recorded one of only two clear rounds in the competition with the mare Ornella Mail, picked up 12,400 euro for his win.

Before today's Grand Prix, Shane Sweetnam racked up Ireland's only win at La Baule with victory in the morning's feature class with Niklas Arvidsson's bay stallion Cyklon, scorching home with over three seconds in hand against French challenger Philippe Rozier and Akita.

However, a fence down in each round of the Grand Prix aboard Spy Coast Farms's Amaretto Darco left Sweetnam in ninth place overall, yielding victory to the double clear of local rider Patrice Delaveau and Orient Express.

At the weekend's other five star show at Wiesbaden in Germany, Tipperary's Denis Lynch lost out on his chance at the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix jump-off on Saturday with a single time fault in his second round on Thomas Straumann's All Star, with the USA's Laura Kraut claiming first place with three clear rounds on the 15 year-old Cedric. Lynch finished in eighth.

In Northern Ireland, meanwhile, Meath's Alexander Butler saw off a strong British challenge to collect 8,000 euro for his win in the Balmoral Grand Prix on Friday night, riding the Irish Sport Horse Will Wimble.

In eventing, Ireland's Michael Ryan took third place in the one-star competition at Rockingham in England with Ballylynch Wizard, with Britain's Kitty King taking the trophy aboard Ceylor LAN.

BREEDING

Will Wimble (ISH) – 2000 grey gelding by Touchdown (ISH) out of The Woolsack (ISH). Owner/Bred by Harold McGahern, Rincoola, Granard, Co. Longford. Rider: Alexander Butler (IRL)