FOLLOWING a nail-biting competition, Darragh Kenny kept the Irish flag flying as he claimed the runner-up place in the prestigious IJRC Rolex Top 10 Final at the five-star CHI Geneva last Friday.

He recorded the impressive result aboard the Ann Thompson-owned 10-year-old Romeo 88 and collected 115,000 CHF (€105,000).

One of the most prestigious classes in the world, Kenny’s goal at the beginning of the year was to make it into the top 10 ranking before December and he is now ranked eighth in the world.

Kenny was one of just three riders to jump clear in the opening round. The other clears were delivered by USA’s Kent Farrington (Austria 2) and Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat (Alamo), while Germany’s Christian Ahlmann (Clintrexo Z) finished the first round with one fault.

Kenny took the lead after jumping clear again second time out in 42.54 but was eventually just edged out by Farrington and the mare Austria, who crossed the line clear in 40.34 to take the winner’s prize of 160,000 CHF. Ahlmann filled third place on the podium with Clintrexo Z, in a time of 51.04.

Farrington, ironically, is ranked 11 in the world but in the absence of Beezie Madden (seventh) was eligible to compete in the final.

Speaking afterwards, Kenny said: “It’s an amazing feeling to ride in the Top 10 Final here. The crowd is incredible. It was a fantastic feeling, my horse was amazing. I am so thankful to have a horse like him.”

In the 1.50m last Saturday, Louth’s Mark McAuley took the runner-up spot. Riding Miebello, he was one of 15 double clears, finishing in 30.42. Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa and Venice Beach landed victory when they crossed the line in 29.97.

McAuley and Miebello finished just outside the top six in Saturday’s 1.55m, slotting into seventh, with one pole on the ground in 30.48. In the 1.55m, Kenny took 10th place with Go Easy de Muze, when they recorded four faults in 32.41.

Mikey Pender put in a impressive performance in Wednesday’s 1.55m taking the runner-up spot with Bravo Hughes’ HHS Burnchurch (ISH). He added to his ribbons when he took fifth place in the 1.40m Prix Radio Lac. Riding the Marion Hughes-owned HHS Fortune, he delivered a clear in 55.90. Taking the win were France’s Julien Epaillard and Jalanta P, clear in 51.23.

Pender and HHS Fortune also recorded a seventh-place finish in Saturday’s speed class when posting 72.44.