TIPPERARY’s Denis Lynch became the latest Irish rider to win a brand new motor car, collecting a Land Rover Discovery Sport after winning the Land Rover Masters at the five-star show in Mechelen, Belgium last Sunday.

The competition was limited to the top five Belgian riders and the top five of the world-ranked riders from other countries taking part at the show. The Masters saw each rider who entered the ring, raise the height of a fence of their choice. Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat was eliminated in the first round, Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet on the first jump-off, and a further five riders made their exit in the second jump-off.

This left the 39-year-old Irishman battling it out with Germany’s Christian Ahlmann on Cornado NRW and Belgium’s Jerome Guery and Grand Cru Van De Rozenberg for the top prize in the third and fourth jump-off.

FAULTLESS

Riding Dr Martin Fromer’s nine-year-old stallion Songe De Toscane, Lynch produced two faultless rounds to claim the Land Rover, with Ahlmann and Guery both incurring four faults on the final round of jumping. Songe De Toscane is a Selle Francais gelding by C-Indoctro out of a Quick Star dam.

Lynch said afterwards: “I have been trying for 15 years to win something here in Mechelen and I’m pretty happy to pull it off, especially with this horse (Songe De Toscane). He is new to us and a bit green at this level but he was fantastic here. When there is a car to the winner, I like every class. I am very pleased with the performance of the horse, this is just about the toughest test he has experienced.”

PODIUM

Lynch also finished on the podium in another class at Mechelen last Monday. He guided the 10-year-old Balou Du Rouet gelding Blue Sliver to third place in a 1.40m speed class, stopping the clock in 59.47 seconds.

Mayo’s Cameron Haley also finished in the top 10, filling eighth place with Cas 2, in a competition won by Italian rider Luca Maria Moneta with Neptune Brecourt. Lynch and Blue Silver added a ninth place finish in a 1.45m class later the same day.