IRELAND’s Jessica Kürten shone in a thrilling finish to win the three-star JBK Grand Prix of Odense, Denmark, last Sunday. Six riders out of an initial 40 went through to the jump-off of the event which was presented by the Danish Equestrian Federation.

Denmark’s Andreas Schou, riding Allstar, had his home crowd on tenderhooks as he clung onto the lead in the feature competition, clear in 35.70 seconds.

However, Kurten’s entry into the arena on VDL Stud’s chesnut stallion Arezzo VDL changed all that in a thrilling finale to the Grand Prix.

Afterwards, Jessica told The Irish Field she was “delighted’’ with her Grand Prix.

The course was challenging, standing at up to 1.50m and the atmosphere electric. Kürten took it on full blast, flying around the course in a daring round to cross through the timers in the winning time of 34.28.

Schou had to settle for second while Latvia’s Kristaps Neretnieks (Caramsin) were third, each winning an Amigo trailer from Mustang.

Meanwhile, Kürten won a new Subaru XV for her efforts and quickly jumped behind the wheel to make tailspins to the applause of the crowd.

ALLEN SHINES

Meanwhile Wexford’s 19-year-old Bertram Allen continued his recent run of success with a win at Odense on Dr. R. Smith’s gelding Belmonde.

Allen rode Belmonde into first place in last Friday’s biggest class at Odense, beating Germany’s Johannes Ehning and Cayenne by just under half a second.