Moloney second at WEF
KILKENNY’s Richie Moloney (above) scored a runner-up finish in Wednesday’s $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida. Moloney guided the Equinimity LLC-owned gelding Alsvid to a clear round in 65.16 seconds and took the early lead. American rider Todd Minikus took the winners prize aboard Zephyr, crossing the line in 63.95 seconds.
Tipperary’s Kevin Babington also grabbed a runner-up finish in Wednesday’s 1.40m with the Irish Sport Horse Mark Q (0/ 65.90), just behind Brazilian winner Rodrigo Pessoa and Chaco 34 (0/ 64.99).
Hanley and McGuigan win
CORMAC Hanley got a win under his belt at the Winter Equestrian Festival when guiding Twan to victory in the $2,500 1.35m one round speed class. The young rider from Claremorris in Co Mayo broke the beam in 60.01 seconds to win the class ahead of America’s Amber Harte. Hanley is based with Missy Clark and John Brennan in their North Run farm.
Ronan McGuigan racked up another Irish win in the 1.40m class aboard Capall Zidane, posting the fastest time of 59.19 seconds. Newry’s Lorcan Gallagher finished fourth in the same class aboard Belize D’Ive Z (0/ 66.93).
Twomey and Duke win
CORK’s Billy Twomey and the Irish Sport Horse Ardcolum Duke (TIH)(ISH) claimed a commanding victory in yesterday’s 1.45m speed class at Zurich’s five-star show in Switzerland.
Twomey and the Joe Flynn-owned son of Gypsy Duke (ISH) powered home in a time of 54.69 seconds to collect the top prize of almost 10,000 Swiss franc.
The runner-up, Colombia’s Carlos Enrique Lopez Lizarazo, was almost two seconds slower, with Cuplandra, while Dutch rider Leopold Van Asten finished third with VDL Groep Miss Untouchable
GCL gets FEI approval
The FEI and the Global Champions League (GCL) have reached full agreement with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The agreement includes FEI approval of the GCL rules, which are now in compliance with FEI rules. The new MOU will replace the one signed in September 2007 by the FEI and the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) and it brings to an end the legal issues between the FEI and the GCL.
Creed meets Phil Hogan
THE Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, met European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, to review key issues. Among the topics for discussion was the Brexit challenge and the future of CAP post-2020 as well as strengthening the position of farmers in the agri-food supply chain.