TIPPERARY’S Denis Lynch scored Ireland’s first win at the five-star show in Mechelen, Belgium, on Monday, taking victory in the Grand Prix with Thomas Straumann’s bay gelding Abbervail Van Het Dingeshof.

Lynch, who collected €12,500 for his first place, also saw fellow Tipperary rider Thomas Ryan claim sixth place on Aschwanden Simone’s grey gelding Caribo.

Both Irish riders made it through to the 12-horse jump-off from a starting field of 44, and though both recorded clear rounds, it was Lynch’s time of 30.19 seconds in the final round that proved unbeatable.

Dutch star Jur Vrieling and Flash Dance V. Kalevallei came closest to catching Lynch – who at 22nd in the world show jumping rankings is currently six places below Vrieling – with just a fifth of a second separating the two. Only seven combinations managed to achieve double clear rounds in the Grand Prix.

Later that same evening, Lynch picked up a further €2,250 for third place in the six-bar competition, riding the eight-year-old Querida. The competition was won by Wout-Jan van der Schans from the Netherlands, aboard the bay gelding Zorro.

Earlier, Lynch placed equal eighth in the Land Rover Masters competition with Songe De Toscane, the top class was won by Vrieling and VDL Zirocco Blue.