IRELAND’Ss Billy Twomey started out as he meant to go on at the four-star Liverpool International Horse Show when claiming the Horseware Ireland 1.45m jump-off class on the opening day aboard the Irish Sport Horse Ardcolum Duke.

Twelve of the starting 29 combinations went through to the second round against the clock. Ireland had a strong hand in the jump-off with four Irish riders, including Twomey, Shane Breen, Dermott Lennon and Dave Quigley.

Riding Joe Flynn’s 13-year-old grey stallion by Gypsy Duke, Twomey’s time of 30.64 seconds was too fast for the remaining competitors. Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano finished in the runner-up position with Chalou (0/0 31.74), while Tipperary’s Shane Breen slotted into third aboard Guidam Van Het Achterhoek (0/0 31.84).

Dermott Lennon and Loughview Lou Lou (ISH) recorded the second quickest time of the day but an unfortunate pole on the ground meant they finished in sixth place, while English-based Dave Quigley was 10th with Eis Isaura (0/4 36.40).