BILLY Twomey rounded off a superb three days for Irish riders at Liverpool International Horse Show, with victory in the curtain-closing Equestrian.Com 1.60m Grand Prix in front of packed stands at the Echo Arena, a result which confirmed his position as leading rider of the show.
The Corkman’s winning round with Terry Payne’s Diaghilev, was a masterful display of precision jumping and their huge leap of faith after a breathtaking gallop to the final oxer, drew gasps from the watching Merseyside audience.
Britain’s John Whitaker and the For Pleasure mare Ornellaia, had set the ball rolling, with a typically determined round when fourth to go against the clock. They took an early lead in the 10-strong jump-off with a time of 36.47 seconds and few would have bet against the popular Yorkshire rider being beaten at that stage.
Twomey’s fast clear in round one, saw him drawn second last to go in the decider with Diaghilev, who was having his first major outing since his Grand Prix win at the Horse of the Year Show.
The 38-year-old Carrigaline native said: “I could see a few of the others go on the monitor, so I had an idea what I had to do. However with another rider to go after me, I had to put down a good marker. We took a couple of strides out here and there and as this horse has a lot of power and scope I chanced my arm to the last oxer and he picked up a long way off. I’m really delighted.”
Twomey crossed the line in a remarkable 34.86 with the son of the former Robert Smith ride, Vangelis S. Diaghilev is also a former winner of the Millstreet Grand Prix, taking the title in 2012 when ridden by Britain’s Anna Edwards.
Sweden’s Peder Fredricson was last to go with H&M All In, but he never looked like catching Twomey.
He did however fill third place on the podium with the stallion son of Kashmir Van Schuttershof, leaving Whitaker as runner-up with Ornellaia.
DOUBLE-HANDED
Ireland had been double-handed in the jump-off. Tipperary’s Shane Breen producing an excellent clear first time out with Acoustick Solo Du Baloubet but they lowered two early rails against the clock to finish 10th. Co Down’s Dermott Lennon finished 12th with the Irish Sport Horse Loughview Lou-Lou, when posting the second fastest four fault score in round one.
Twomey and Diaghilev could almost left Liverpool with two major wins to their credit, as the Nottinghamshire-based rider looked well in contention to head last Saturday’s 1.50m world class rankings class. The lightest touch at the final wall nudged a brick past the point of no return, with Twomey posting the fastest time to finish fourth.
The class was won by Britain’s William Funnell and the stallion Billy Congo. Dermott Lennon clinched a spot on the podium, taking third place with Rebecca McGoldrick’s 10-year-old Chatman mare, Fleur IV, after a foot-perfect double clear round.
Twomey also stood on the podium earlier the same day with Sue Davies’ Cavalier gelding Tin Tin. They finished third in the Equo 1.45m speed class, just under two seconds behind Italian winner, Piergiorgio Bucci with Casallo Z. Waterford’s Anthony Condon finished ninth with the nine-year-old Oakland gelding Balzac, one place ahead of Trevor Breen and Georgie D´Auvray EC.
Joe Flynn’s Irish Sport Horse, Ardcolum Duke, also contributed to Twomey’s leading rider points haul, finishing fourth in the Equerry 1.45m speed stakes last Sunday.
The son of Gypsy Duke, who is out of a Clover Hill dam, finished three seconds behind Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano with Cocoshynsky, while Denis Lynch finished sixth with Icon D’Or.