Show Jumping - Kelly Wins French Grand Prix On Drumiller Lough

Army rider Capt.Michael Kelly continued his recent run of solid form with a win in the French Grand Prix at Chantilly this evening (Sunday).

The 31 year-old piloted the Irish Sport Horse Drumiller Lough to a 6,000 euro victory after setting a very fast time in the 13 horse jump-off.

The only rider to come close at the two-star competition was France's own Adeline Hecart, riding the French-bred mare Question d'Orval, and finishing just a fifth of a second off the time of the Irish duo, and settling for the 5,000 euro runner-up prize.

Kelly claimed a win and several top three places at last month's Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera with the 12 year-old Drumiller Lough, and had similar results at the same venue with another very promising Irish Sport Horse, Mullentine Loughgall.

Meanwhile Cork's Billy Twomey took a sixth place in today's Grand Prix at four-star Hagen in Germany aboard Kim Barzilay's chestnut mare Lizziemary, while in China, Tipperary's Denis Lynch flew the Irish flag when finishing fifth with Wavanta in the Beijing World Cup Grand Prix.