A BRILLIANT performance from Offaly’s Darragh Kenny and the Ann Thompson-owned gelding Romeo saw them take the runner-up spot in today’s (Sunday) five-star Longines FEI World Cup Grand Prix at Verona in Italy.

Ninth to go in a 16 horse jump-off, they set a scorching time of 36.06 seconds to take the lead. The result looked like being a scriptwriter's dream with Romeo set to take victory in Verona – the city that inspired Shakespeare’s classic play Romeo and Juliet.

However Britain’s Scott Brash had other ideas and he took victory with an incredible round when last to go with Hello M’lady in a time of 35.55.

Brash collected €47,500 for his victory while Kenny’s runner-up finished netted him €38,000. World No.1 Steve Guerdat (SUI) finished in third place with Alamo.

Co Louth’s Mark McAuley also made it into the jump-off and took 14th place with Vivaldi du Theil.

World Cup series

It has proved to be an excellent weekend for Irish riders on the World Cup circuit, with Darragh Kenny’s runner-up finish in Verona coming on the back of a superb win in Toronto (CAN) for Bertram Allen with GK Casper in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Allen’s win moves him up to equal sixth place on the Longines FEI World Cup European league table on 20 points. Darragh Kenny collects 18 points for his runner-up finish in Verona and is now in 13th spot. The Longines FEI World Cup series moves to Stuttgart in Germany next weekend as the road to next year’s World Cup final in Las Vegas continues.

Win for Howley

Meanwhile at Sentower Park in Belgium. Sligo’s Richard Howley claimed victory in the three-star Grand Prix. He partnered Gaesbekers Glamour Girl to the fastest clear of a 12-horse jump-off to take the top prize of €12,550.

Source: Horse Sport Ireland press release