OFFALY’s Darragh Kenny earned close to €50,000 when finishing runner-up in the five-star GNP Grand Prix at the Club Hipico La Silla in Monterrey, Mexico last Sunday where victory went to Israel’s Ashlee Bond.

From 35 starters, it looked like a jump-off wouldn’t be on the cards when Bond was the only clear, however, last to go in the first round, Kenny produced the second clear of the competition with the 11-year-old mare Great-Tikila J, owned by Whitrock Farm and HKC Collection LLC.

Bond was first to go against the clock and produced a perfect clear in 37.27 to set a high standard aboard the multiple five-star winner Donatello who she rode at the Tokyo Olympic Games last year. In the end, he had to settle for second when finishing with four faults.

Bond dedicated the win to her mother who is normally by her side at events. “My mom got sick, but she has a very good prognosis. She’s doing amazing and that’s all I can ask for. It’s rewarding to know I am good enough to do this on my own,” she said, adding: “I dedicate this win to my mom, life is tough, you have to keep the faith and put your head down and work.”

Shane Sweetnam finished eighth with his own and Voquest LLC’s nine-year-old gelding Namaste Van Het Eyckeveld on four faults.

Darragh Kenny also finished second in Sunday’s two-star Grand Prix at the venue with Heathman Farm’s 12-year-old gelding Sangris Boy. He was one of five clears in the jump-off, breaking the beam in 37.30 seconds, finishing behind USA’s Mimi Gochman with Halita BH (0/0 37.21).

Five-star win

Sweetnam picked up a five-star win in Saturday’s 1.50m aboard Birdy du Thot. From seven clear rounds, the pair were the fastest in 60.48 seconds, beating USA’s Lillie Keenan into second place with Cadeauminka (0/ 60.61).

Paul O’Shea was part of the Eye Candy team who won the team competition at the Major League Show Jumping event. On the team with Canada’s Jacueline Steffens-Daly and Ireland’s Richie Moloney, O’Shea jumped off against Derry’s Jordan Coyle, who was riding for Spy Coast Spies, and was a second faster to secure victory for his team.

Helpful

“I was able to see Jordan go, which was very helpful, and I’d seen a few go with Richie and Jacqueline earlier. That was helpful because I had an idea of what I needed to do and where to do it,” O’Shea commented after.

Kilkenny’s Richie Moloney only recently joined the Eye Candy team, which led him to say: “It’s a great experience to have everyone pulling for each other. The team has been very consistent. I think I’ve jumped on four and we’ve been on the podium three times, so I’m happy to be here.”