OFFALY’s Darragh Kenny ended his trip to the five-star show in Knokke, Belgium, on a high note last Sunday when he claimed victory in the €500,000 Rolex Grand Prix aboard Ann Thompson’s Balou Du Reventon.
After being second 12 months ago, and aiming the horse specifically at this class, Kenny was overjoyed with the victory. “I’ve had a lot of placings in Rolex Grand Prix competitions, but I never won one so it was very important for me to win today. I was fourth in Aachen and Rome as well as third in Geneva. I’ve been getting close but not close enough!” he said.
The senior Irish riders were under scrutiny from Ireland’s development manager Michael Blake, who was monitoring the combinations ahead of selection for next month’s European Championships.
“My horse has been jumping fantastic,” Kenny added. “I really wanted to use this week to test a little bit ahead of the European Championships, and jump him three days here. He jumped incredible today, and answered every question that I asked of him.”
In what was a tense jump-off, the top three in the line-up all came home within 43 seconds. Just six of the 46 combinations proceeded to the second round of Uliano Vezzani’s track, and from those, three were Irish. Mark McAuley was the first to go against the clock aboard his wife Charlotte’s Valentino Tuiliere, but one fence down in a time of 45.25 saw him take sixth.
World champions Simone Blum and DSP Alice proved once again just how good they are when they set the standard with a clear in 42.65 to put the pressure on for those to follow. Neither USA’s Margie Goldstein-Engle, the veteran in the field at the age of 61, nor young home hero Nicola Philippaerts could catch her – despite good attempts as the following riders in the ring.
Back on top form, Wexford’s Bertram Allen gave it his everything with the scopey Harley vd Bisschop (Dulf van den Bisschop x Coronado), and he too delivered a clear, just slower that Blum in 42.96 seconds, which proved good enough for third.
Last to go, Kenny knew what was required as he took it on with the 13-year-old Cornet Obolensky-sired stallion. A calculated round saw them cross the line clear in 42.17 seconds to claim the top prize of a new Audi Q7 along with almost €72,000.
Allen was delighted to feature on the podium and said: “Obviously I knew I had to be very, very fast to try and beat these guys so I had to take a bit of risk. My horse answered all the questions very well, so I am absolutely delighted even with third today!”
Kenny who topped the CSI5* leading rider rankings and collected his prize of a new STX 2 horse truck.
Sweet 3* win for Kenny
The day before Kenny partnered SHL Farms’ 10-year-old mare Sweet Tricia (Berlin x Tampa) to a win in three-star Grand Prix.
In total, 15 combinations proceeded to the jump-off and from those, two delivered double clears. Coming straight from victory in Friday’s Top Series Grand Prix qualifier, the pair were last to go and blew the competition away with another clear in 40.75 seconds – taking the top prize of €16,566 and a STX Tackbox.
The only other clear came from Dutch rider Kevin Jochems and Faithless Mvdl (Ukato x Clinton) finished 0.27 seconds behind Kenny to take runner-up position.
The Offaly rider was certainly on a roll and took the runner-up spot in the 1.40m on Friday with Quatinka, clear in 58.03, ahead of Bertram Allen and Go To Fortuna, who clocked 58.50.
Peter Moloney led the victory lap in Thursday’s 1.40m when he partnered Steyburn to a clear in a time of 23.30. Mark McAuley followed closely behind, when he lodged 23.50, while Cian O’ Connor and Diego finished in fourth place when clear in 24.23.
On Friday, three Irish riders finished in the line-up in the five-star 1.45m two-phase class. Best of the Irish contingent was O’Connor who claiming the runner-up spot with Diego, who is owned by Reitsportanlage Dagobertshausen GmbH & CO.KG when clear in 23.36.
He was just 0.6 of a second off the winner, Dominique Hendrickx (Koriano Van Klapscheut). Darragh Kenny slotted into fourth with Billy Dorito, clear in 24.45, while Peter Moloney and Compelling Z took seventh, clear in 25.35.
O’Connor added to his placings when finishing fifth with PSG Final in the 1.50m on Friday when fastest of the four faulters in a time of 48.43. Further down the line and sharing eighth place was Peter Moloney (Chianti’s Champion) and Darragh Kenny (Balou du Reventon).
On Saturday, Shane Sweetnam was best of the Irish when taking fifth in the 1.50m. Riding Spy Coast Farm’s Chaqui Z, he answered all the questions in a time of 45.34 seconds. He returned to the take third place with Deleyn in Sunday’s 1.45 Table A, when they delivered a clear in 42.41.
Jordan Kilkenny took the win in the CSI1* 1.30m Grand Prix on Saturday aboard the nine-year-old mare Florida Van Maarle, owned by Reitsportanlage Dagobertshausen GmbH & CO.KG. One of eight double clears, he lodged the winning round in a time of 41.85.