SLIGO’s Darragh Kerins earned a healthy prize fund when finishing runner-up in the four-star $204,000 Coca Cola Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Centre in North Carolina, USA, last Sunday.

Riding NRG Farm LLC’s 10-year-old Caturo-sired gelding Carlos JD Z, who he has had on his team since the beginning of the year, Kerins was among five clears over the first round of the 1.60 track. Cork’s Shane Sweetnam also made it through to the jump-off with Spy Coast Farm’s nine-year-old stallion Kirschwasser SCF.

Kerins was among three riders to keep a clean sheet against the clock and when he broke the beam in 50.33 he took the lead momentarily. He was eventually relegated to second place with USA’s Kelli Cruciotti posting the winning time of 49.13 seconds with Hadja van Orshof.

Sweetnam had the time beaten but faulted once to finish on four faults in fourth place, taking home $18,360. Kerins earned $36,720.

Babington placed

At American’s longest running show in Upperville, Virginia, Tipperary’s Kevin Babington finished sixth in the four-star $208,200 Grand Prix, which was won by USA’s McLain Ward for the fourth time in his career, this time riding Contagious.

Babington was among 13 clears in the first round of the 1.60m class with his experienced 14-year-old mare Shorapur. A second clear against the clock in a time of 40.14 was not enough to challenge the leaders in the competitive class but earned him sixth place and $8,430.

Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire, fiancé of Irish show jumper David Blake, took the runner-up position aboard Roulette BH (0/0 38.06).

Babington and Shorapur placed fourth in Friday’s 1.55m jump-off class when producing one of 10 clears in the 19-horse jump-off. He broke the beam in 38.16 seconds to take home $6,410. Victory went to America’s Alex Granato and Carlchen W (0/0 37.20).