A SINGLE time fault prevented Ireland’s Shane Breen and the stallion Golden Hawk from taking a place in the jump-off in last Sunday’s second leg of the Longines FEI World Cup at Helsinki in Finland. Breen and the 10-year-old son of Vigo D’Arsouilles, produced a perfect jumping round when eighth to go in the 1.60m contest but they exceeded the time allowed by one and a half seconds, eventually finishing in 15th place overall.

The only other Irish rider in the field, Billy Twomey finished the first round with three fences on the floor aboard the 13-year-old Cavalier gelding Tin Tin.

Switzerland’s Romain Duguet and Quorida De Treho took the winner’s trophy after a blistering second round. It seemed young British star, 19-year-old Jessica Mendoza, had maximum points in the bag when setting a super-fast target-time with Spirit T early in the 13-horse jump-off. However the Swiss pair galloped home 0.11 seconds quicker to nudge them down to second place ahead of 2014 World Cup champions Daniel Deusser and Cornet d’Amour from Germany in third.

Duguet’s fellow-countryman and winner of the 2015 Longines Final, Steve Guerdat, slotted into fourth with his Olympic gold medal winning ride Nino Des Buissonnets, while Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher (Embassy ll) and Marcus Ehning (Comme Il Faut) lined up fifth and sixth in the world-class field.

Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson, set the first real target when bringing H&M Tornesch home clear in 41.26 seconds. Guerdat and Nino then set the arena alight when racing through the finish line in 37.61, leaving all the timber intact.

Guerdat’s advantage was short-lived when Mendoza blazed home in 36.96 to take the lead with the 14-year-old Tornado mare Spirit T.

Ehning’s fun-loving stallion Comme Il Faut and Dreher’s dramatic-jumping Embassy, each gave it a great shot, but Mendoza’s lead wasn’t threatened until Duguet set off.

The 35-year-old rider and his 11-year-old mare have enjoyed a spectacular season, crowned by their contribution to Switzerland’s bronze medal at the European Championships in Aachen, Germany in August.

Asked afterwards if he was surprised at beating Mendoza’s target time, Duguet said: “No, I was really confident that I could do it. I know Jessica is so fast - but I knew my mare could do better! She’s wonderful, she’s one of the best in the world, she’s fast, she’s scopey and she’s careful - she’s got everything you need for a very top horse.”

Shane Breen was also in good form in last Friday’s 1.40m speed and handiness class where he finished as runner-up with Acoustik Solo Du Baloubet. The Cashel native and the nine-year-old son of Baloubet Du Rouet were just under half a second slower than German rider Hans-Dieter Dreher riding Callisto.

Billy Twomey slotted into third place in last Sunday’s 1.45m speed class in Helsinki with the nine-year-old Cabri D Elle mare, Lizziemary. Hans-Dieter Dreher added a second win to his haul this time with Cool And Easy.

Twomey had finished in fifth place in last Friday’s Helsinki Champions 1.45m class with the 18-year-old Tinka’s Serenade behind Dutch winner Jur Vrieling and Arezzo VDL, while Twomey also slotted into sixth place in another 1.45m class on the same day with Tin Tin.

The third leg of the Western European World Cup series will take place in Lyon, France tomorrow (Sunday), where Bertram Allen and Trevor Breen will be in action for Ireland.