CORK’s Billy Twomey scored one of his biggest career wins when he took the honours in the Longines Grand Prix at La Coruna’s five-star show in Spain.

Riding the 13-year-old gelding Diaghilev, Twomey saw off the challenge from 39 combinations to collect the winner’s prize of almost €90,000.

Twomey said, on his website: “I had an amazing weekend which culminated in a five-star win in the Longines Grand Prix at La Coruna. Diaghilev jumped amazing and deserved the win. He has been knocking on the door for a while. I am really pleased for his owners (the Payne family). They bred him and are extremely great owners for me and enjoy every minute of Diaghilev’s achievements. I had a touch of luck at the last fence but we all need a bit of luck from time to time!”

By Vangelis S and out of Courtesan, Diaghilev has proved consistent for Twomey this year at five-star level. In November the pair finished second in the five-star World Cup qualifier at Verona, Italy. In July they took a win in the Hickstead CSIO*****.

Last to go in the eight-way jump-off in La Coruna, there was an anxious moment as Diaghilev rubbed the last fence, but with everything staying in place, their time of 38.38 seconds was enough to see them lead the victory lap. Italy’s Alberto Zorzi had set the bar high when he lodged a clear in 38.64 with Fair Light van’t Heike to take the early lead and then eventual second. In third place was Max Kuhner, who lodged a double clear in 40.28 with Cornet Kalua, while fourth place was taken by Spanish rider, Manuel Fernandez Saro riding Cannavaro 9, clear in 43.53. Last of the double clears and taking fifth place was Tobias Meyer and Avanti 236 in a time of 48.69. Belgian rider Peter Devos put in a blistering round with Espoir, but it came at a price as he crossed the line carrying four faults in 39.72 for sixth place.

Denis Lynch was also in the ribbons when he finished eighth in the 1.60m Longines World Cup La Coruna. Riding All Star 5, Lynch incurred a single time fault in the first round. Victory went to Colombia’s Carlos Enrique Lopez Lizarazo riding Admara 2 when they clocked the winning round of clear in 37.84 seconds

NOTHING TO SPARE

Colombia’s René López left nothing to spare as he took the honours in the 1.50m Massimo Dutti Trophy. The class, which also served as a qualifier for the World Cup, saw 46 riders go to post. Riding the nine-year-old mare, Twig du Veillon, López left his rivals behind when last to go he stopped the clock in 38.21 seconds. In second place and within 0.16 seconds was Maikel van der Vleuten riding VDL Groep Arera C, ahead of Sergio Álvarez Moya riding Unicstar de l’Aumone. Further down the line in ninth place was Shane Breen and Golden Hawk, clear in 43.44.

Earlier at the show, the NH Collection Trophy went to France when Mathieu Billot, riding Radja des Fontaines, set the unbeatable time of 54.95 seconds. René Lopez was back in the ribbons, this time taking the runner-up spot with Big Brother when clear in 56.73 seconds, ahead of Luis Sabino Gonçalves and Teck de Riverland in 57.59.

Meanwhile, competing in the two-star, Ireland’s Joanne Sloan-Allen and her eight-year-old mare Amigo Cascada was in the ribbons at the Spanish venue when she took fifth place in the 1.45m Grand Prix. The Antrim rider was clear in 44.80 seconds. The winner of the class was Luis Fernandez Gil Fournier riding Espinosa, clear in 36.85 seconds.