ONE Irish rider who was most definitely wearing the crown at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead was Cork’s Billy Twomey, who racked up four major wins including the featured €200,000 Longines King George V Gold Cup after a whirlwind week.
Overall, Irish riders enjoyed an incredible five days of wins and top placings at the five-star show.
In the curtain-closing €200,000 Longines King George V Gold Cup, Twomey triumphed after a thrilling 13-horse jump-off in which he snatched the famous winner’s trophy on the 10-year-old mare Lizziemary.
They were last to go against the clock and looking to catch Dutchman Wout-Jan Van Der Schans, who had set what looked an unbeatable time with the gelding Capetown.
Incredibly Twomey shaved almost half-a-second off the target to score one of the biggest wins of his career.
A delighted Twomey commented: “It was her [Lizziemary] first time jumping in that ring but she’s done really well.
“Ordinarily horses need to know that arena, but she’s really brave and has a big rangy gallop that covers the ground, so it suits her.
“I’m just delighted how the mare performed, I’ve always felt she’s been knocking on the door but not quite delivered. I’m very proud that she’s managed to win one of the most prestigious classes in the world.
“I had a good show in Dublin last week where I was the leading rider – there is a lot to be said about when you’ve got your tail up and are full of confidence.”
Three Irish riders finished inside the top 10, with Wexford’s Bertram Allen (21) briefly holding the lead with Molly Malone before eventually finishing fourth.
Tipperary’s Shane Breen and Golden Hawk maintained the form that saw them finish as runners-up in the Dublin Horse Show Grand Prix and finished ninth at Hickstead.
They posted the fastest time of the jump-off but one fence down denied them victory.
irish success
Twomey’s Gold Cup win was his fourth of the week at Hickstead, where Ireland’s David Simpson and Elizabeth Power also scored victories, and Robert Spaine’s Irish team finished as runners-up in the Nations Cup last Friday.
Twomey opened his account last Thursday with victory in the Bunn Leisure Vase with Thomas.
He then partnered Diaghilev to victory in Saturday morning’s Bunn Leisure Salver, getting the better of British speed specialist Guy Williams after a seven-horse jump-off.
Twomey scored his third win in that afternoon’s British Speed Classic, guiding the nine-year-old gelding Thomas to victory by the slimmest of margins.
They finished one hundredth of a second ahead of Britain’s Ben Maher, who was riding Aristo Z, while Tipperary’s Shane Breen slotted into fifth place with Acoustic Solo Du Baloubet.
The Queen Elizabeth Cup was also won by Co Derry’s David Simpson, who lifted the famous trophy after he posted the fastest of three double clear rounds with Chessy 17. The Queen Elizabeth Cup was opened up to both sexes in 2008, and Simpson is the fifth man to lift the historic trophy.
Simpson now lives close to Hickstead with fellow show jumper Louise Pavitt and the happy couple are getting married in two weeks’ time.
“I have to keep winning classes to pay for the wedding – it certainly keeps you hungry,” commented Simpson.