DARRAGH Kenny was best of the Irish in the five-star 1.60m Longines Grand Prix of Paris last Sunday, taking fourth place in what was a star-studded line-up.

Riding Ann Thompson’s nine-year-old gelding Classic Dream, he was one of six clears in the first round and delivered a second clear against the clock in 36.69 seconds to earn €30,000. French riders dominated the podium with a one-two-three.

Roger Yves Bos and Sangria du Coty set the standard with a time of 36.05 seconds before Kevin Staut took over the lead with For Joy van’t Zorgvliet HD (35.65) and looked like he couldn’t be beaten. However, Simon Delestre and the hugely experienced Hermes Ryan had other ideas and the crowd went wild when they broke the beam in 35.34 when last to go to land victory and €99,000.

French rider Felicie Bertrand finished fifth with Sultane des Ibis (0/0 36.81) and Germany’s Christian Ahlmann was the only one to fault against the clock to finish in sixth place with A Chance On Me Z.

McEntee win

John McEntee is on a winning roll at shows in Europe and was the first pony winner of the weekend in Paris, where they were hosting the very first Pony Masters at the Longines Masters of Paris.

McEntee, part of the gold medal-winning European team during the summer, won Saturday’s speed Lami-Cell Pony Masters with Marion Hughes’ 11-year-old mare Carrickaduff Pet (ISH) when breaking the beam with the fastest clear round in 51.59 seconds, ahead of Dutch rider Pam Nieuwenhuis (Zeppe van de Ijsseldijk) in second and Britain’s Shaunie Greig (Casino Royale) in third. Ella Quigley and Rock Dee Jay, slotted into sixth place, with a clear in 56.59.

“It’s very good to win the first pony class at the Longines Masters of Paris. I haven’t had Carrickaduff Pet that long but it’s a very good pony”, commented the 16-year-old.

“It’s my last year on ponies, then I’ll move on to horses. I already ride a few horses, so I’m ready!” McEntee added.

McEntee and Carrickaduff Pet were best of the Irish in Sunday’s Masters when finishing in fourth place. They were among six clears in the first round but faulted once against the clock and had to settle for fourth. Victory went to France’s Jeanne Hirel.

Riders Masters Cup series

Kenny was also part of the European team that won the Riders Masters Cup for the fifth year in-a-row on Friday night.

The first round of action saw Kenny and Ann Thompson’s Important De Muze overcome Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Fine Lady.

For the second round, Kenny rode SRS Stables’ Dabelle and beat off the challenge of Kara Chad (CAN) and Viva. Led by Swedish chef d’équipe Henrik Ankarcrona, Kenny was accompanied on the team by Martin Fuchs (SUI), Jos Verloy (BEL), Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and Kevin Staut (FRA), who eventually overcame the American team on a final score of 125 points to 80.