Merveldt third in Italy

IRISH Olympian Anna Merveldt and the 13-year-old Lusitano stallion Esporim scored 68.830% for a podium finish at the three-star international dressage show in Ornago, Italy placing third in the Grand Prix Special last Saturday.

France’s Alexandre Ayache and Jolene scored 70.426% for the win, with fellow French rider Isabelle Pinto and La Gesse Hot Chocolate VD Kwaplas in second on a 69.596% total. A day earlier, Merveldt was fifth in the Grand Prix on a score of 67.565% when the win went to French Olympian Morgan Barbançon with Bolero (70.870%) Italy’s Francesco Zaza score of 70.696% with Whispering Romance proved good enough for second place with French rider Isabelle Pinto and La Gesse Hot Chocolate VD Kwaplas slotting into third on a 68.574% total.

Simon McCarthy third in

three-star Grand Prix

CORK show jumper Simon McCarthy placed third in the three-star $100,000 Lugano Diamonds 1.50m Grand Prix on the Split Rock Jumping Tour at the Kentucky Horse Park last weekend. Riding Rock Ridge Farms’ 11-year-old gelding Gotcha, McCarthy was among nine clears in the first round and set the standard when second to go against the clock, clear in 37.89 seconds. In the end, he had to settle for third place and €15,200, with 21-year-old USA rider Tanner Korotkin posting the winning round in 36.19 seconds with Quinn 33, ahead of Aaron Vale and Highlander MVF (0/0 36.80).

Denis Lynch third in

two-star Grand Prix

DENIS Lynch placed third in the two-star Grand Prix of Dettighofen-Albführen in Germany last Sunday. Riding the 10-year-old gelding Cornet Obolensky stallion Cornets Iberio, he was among four double clears in the class, breaking the beam in 44.56 seconds to finish third and earn €6,000. Germany’s Richard Vogel landed victory with Looping Luna (0/0 40.96). Lynch won a seven and eight-year-old 1.35m class on Saturday aboard the Casall-sired stallion Dark Chocolate 48 when the best of 10 double clears in 31.78 seconds.