FOR the second consecutive year, an Irish pony rider has won the FEI Pony Jumping Trophy Final at Mechelen, Belgium.

Waterford’s Katie Power and Irish-bred pony Ghost Rider claimed the winner's prize in the FEI Pony Jumping Trophy Final.

Power collected the trophy on the back of impressive results at Herning in Denmark and Stuttgart in Germany along with a brilliant win in Mechelen which was hosting the 2018 season finale.

Charlotte Houston also took fifth place overall for Ireland with Toscane Davnir while Caragh Charlton finished ninth with Kosmo van Orchid’s.

Power’s win comes 12 months after Kilkenny's Seamus Hughes Kennedy, claimed the inaugural FEI Pony Jumping Trophy in 2017.

LYNCH FIFTH IN WORLD CUP

Meanwhile, Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and the Zach Lukas & Onyx Consulting-owned gelding The Sinner, recorded a fifth place finish in today’s (Sunday) Longines FEI World Cup Grand Prix at Mechelen in Belgium where clear rounds were at a premium.

Just four combinations managed to jump clear in the first round with Lynch taking fifth place and €11,100 after completing the first round with just a time fault. Germany’s Christian Ahlmann and Clintrexo Z captured the top prize of a new BMW car and €26,000 with a fantastic clear when last to go in the jump-off. French rider Kevin Staut finished as runner-up with Edesa’s Cannary ahead of Harrie Smolders (NED) in third with Don VHP Z N.O.P. while Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum finished fourth with Casello. Lynch now sits in 22nd place on the World Cup league table where Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat continues to hold the lead.