DERRY’S Daniel Coyle continued his incredible run of form over the weekend, with a number of podium places including two seconds at the 67th Washington International Horse Show. The most significant of these was a runner-up finish with the 12-year-old gelding Incredible in Saturday’s $340,000 1.60m Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Washington President’s Cup Grand Prix, when they were a close second to Laura Kraut (USA).
From a start list of 28, eight combinations jumped clear within the time in round one for the chance to jump again, with only three managing to keep the fences standing in the jump-off to claim the podium places. Kraut rode Tres Bien Z double clear, in a fast jump-off time of 40.83 seconds to secure the win. Coyle and Incredible were only 0.31 seconds behind to claim the runner-up spot (41.14), with Ben Maher (GBR) on Faltic HB in third (42.25). Swail and Casturano finished ninth after a time penalty in round one denied them a place in the jump-off.
Coyle said afterwards: “I hope when I’m Laura’s age, I’ll be able to do this sport the way she does. It’s phenomenal, and everybody should look up to her - man or woman. I don’t like second place, but when it’s someone like Laura, it’s fine.”
The Derry man competed at the show last year and learned from any mistakes made in the Grand Prix. “To come back and get second is quite good, so that’s my way of thanking him, and he always thanks me,” he said of the KWPN gelding by Clinton x Heartbreaker. “Incredible is a great horse. He can go day by day, speed class or Grand Prix, and there’s not many horses that can do that.”
Coyle is now top of the North American leaderboard with 27 points, ahead of Kraut and Kent Farrington (USA), who are both on 20 points, while Swail sits fourth on 18. The league moves to Toronto (CAN) on Saturday, November 15th.
On form
International classes at the Washington International Horse Show began with the $63,000 1.55m Welcome Stake class on Thursday. From the 28 starters, just eight posted a clear first round to book their place in the jump-off, where seven of them jumped again. Five of thesejumped clear in the jump-off, including Down’s Conor Swail and the 12-year-old gelding Casturano, whose time of 35.53 was good enough for fifth place.
The class was won by McLain Ward (USA) on First Lady in a time of 33.15. Ireland’s Jonathan Corrigan finished ninth on Darius de Kerglenn after a single time penalty in round one precluded him from jumping again.
Swail had started the week with the poignant announcement that Count Me In (Crosby) is to retire to Conall Murray’s Mannon Farm, in Swail’s own home town of Darragh Cross in Co Down. This hugely talented horse is now 18, but had an amazing career winning at five-star level, being ranked number two in the world at one point and assisting Swail in getting to number four in the rider ranks. One of their most memorable moments together was helping to win the Aga Khan Trophy for Ireland in 2022.
The $63,000 1.50m Stars and Stripes speed final saw Swail and Theo 160 finish in fourth place when they stopped the clock in 57.26, while Coyle and Legacy placed sixth in 58.55. Israel’s Daniel Bluman won the class on Gemma W in a time of 54.98.
Friday’s $63,000 1.45m Accumulator Costume class saw 23 horses and riders line out in various fancy dress outfits to try and accumulate full points around the course, with eight combinations doing so. Daniel Coyle and Incredible, very appropriately dressed as Mr Incredible, rode a super round to score the maximum 65 points in a time of 47.51 to place second.
They were only bettered by Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) on Corrie 9, who went just a fraction quicker to finish in 47.32 to take the win. McLain Ward (USA) and First Lady completed the podium in third (49.13), while Swail and Theo 160 also finished on 65 points, with their time of 49.26 securing them fourth place.