LIMERICK’s Paul O’Shea scored an impressive runner-up finish in Saturday’s five-star Grand Prix at the Otomí Residencial Hípico in San Miguel, Mexico, run as part of the Major League Show Jumping.

Riding the 12-year-old gelding Chancelloress, O’Shea finished less than half-a-second behind Israeli winner Ashlee Bond with Donatello. From 36 starters, just five made it through to the jump-off, where O’Shea’s time of 37.09 seconds was only bettered by Bond and her Tokyo Olympic Games mount Donatello (0/0 36.63).

The 12-year-old Chacco-Blue mare Chancelloress is owned by Niall Carey and Trelawny Farm LLC, and earned just over €27,000 for the runner-up places.

Co Down’s Conor Swail finished fifth with Count Me In after faulting once against the clock. Swail did however get a win of his own on the board when racing to victory in Thursday’s five-star 1.50m ranking class. Riding Sandy Lupton’s 14-year-old gelding Count Me In, he was the fastest of eight clears against the clock when breaking the beam over a second faster than Israeli runner-up Daniel Blueman and Ubiluc.

Swail also finished fifth when clear aboard Gamble, just ahead of Cork’s Shane Sweetnam in sixth with Indra van de Oude Heihoef.

Coyle wins two-star Grand Prix

Derry’s Jordan Coyle won the two-star $725,000 Rosewood Grand Prix at the venue on Sunday.

Riding Boston Ask, a 13-year gelding by Berlin who joined his string at the start of 2021 for owners Elan Farm, Coyle edged out German runner-up Jana Wargers and Chacco’s Lady 2 by less than two tenths of a second in the seven-horse jump-off, breaking the beams in 40.23 seconds compared to the German’s final time of 40.40 seconds.

USA’s Bliss Heers rounded out the podium with Christos in third place, double clear in a slower time of 42.62 seconds. Coyle earned €7,500 for victory.

In the five-star division, Coyle finished fourth in Friday’s 1.45m ranking class with Centriko Volo, one of four clear rounds in 66.23 seconds. Victory went to Canada’s Sam Walker and Evita (0/ 63.76).