IRISH riders picked up three wins at the five-star World Cup show in Zurich last weekend, where Spain’s Eduardo Alvarez Aznar took a surprise victory in the 11th leg of the Western European League of the FEI Longines World Cup.
Cork’s Billy Twomey and the Irish Sport Horse Ardcolum Duke (TIH) got off to a flying start with a commanding victory in Friday’s 1.45m speed class at the Swiss venue. The Gypsy Duke-sired stallion, who is owned and bred by Joe Flynn from Co Roscommon, broke the beam two seconds ahead of his closest pursuer in 54.69 seconds to pick up just over €9,000 in prize money.
Colombia’s Carlos Enrique Lopez Lizarazo finished runner-up with Cuplandra (0/ 56.27), while Dutch rider Leopold Van Asten was third with VDL Groep Miss Untouchable (0/ 56.54).
Twomey scored his second win aboard the 13-year-old less than 24 hours later in the 1.40m LGT Private Banking Challenge. The ultra-consistent Ardcolum Duke once again produced a foot perfect clear round in 52.38 to take the top prize and another €10,000, bringing the grey stallions total prize money to almost €20,000 at the five-star show.
Tipperary’s Denis Lynch picked up a win in Sunday morning’s Verit Immobilien AG Trophy aboard the 13-year-old stallion Echo De Laubry. Lynch was one of 13 combinations to make it through to the jump-off in the 1.45m class and produced a second clear round in 33.56 seconds against the clock to collect €11,000.
Germany’s Christian Ahlmann came closest to catching Lynch, stopping the clock clear in 34.12 with Cornado, while home favourite Pius Schwizer finished third with Balou Rubin R.
This result came on the back of a fourth place finish for the pair in Saturday’s 1.50m two-phase. Lynch guided the Belgian Warmblood by Virus De Laubry to a double clear in 33.10 seconds to finish fourth behind German winner Marco Kutscher with Van Gogh (0/ 32.02).
Italy’s Lorenzo De Luca was second with Halifax Van Het Kluizebox (0/ 32.17) and Dutchman Leopold Van Asten was in third aboard VDL Groep Miss Untouchable.
WORLD CUP
In a nine-horse jump-off against the clock, Spain’s Eduardo Alvarez Aznar threw caution to the wind with a thrilling gallop aboard Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot that stopped the clock in the winning time of 36.20, a full two seconds ahead of Austria’s Max Kuhner, to post his first points on the series table.
Kuhner was last into the ring aboard Cornet Kalua (0/0 38.03) and relegated Colombia’s Carlos Enrique Lopez Lizarazo into third place with the ever-brave Admara (0/0 38.43).
Irish riders had no luck around Guido Balsiger’s tough course, which saw thrills and spills throughout the day, including a spectacular fall from French Olympian Roger Yves Bost who had a mix-up down through the triple combination.
Just two legs of the Western European League are left to run - at Bordeaux this weekend and in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Sunday, February 26th. Ireland’s Denis Lynch moves down to fourth place on the leader board with 45 points, while Frenchman Kevin Staut still leads the way on 78, despite failing to pick up any further points in Zurich.