TIPPERARY’s Thomas Ryan has continued Ireland’s strong start to the indoor World Cup season, claiming a fourth place finish in today’s (Sunday) second leg of the series at Helsinki in Finland.

Riding the nine-year-old stallion Springfield, owned by H3K Equestrian AB, Ryan was one of 10 combinations who made it through to the jump-off. They went clear again against the clock in a time of 35.62 seconds to finish fourth and pocket €22,000 and 13 World Cup points. Victory in Helsinki went to Sweden’s Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli with Kalinka van de Nachtegaele in a time of 34.13secs.

Ryan’s result in Helsinki comes a week after Clare’s Eoin McMahon claimed a third place finish for Ireland in the opening World Cup round in Oslo (NOR). Lyon in France will host the third round of the 2022 Longines FEI World Cup series next weekend.

Meanwhile at St Lo in France, Galway’s Jessica Burke finished fifth in the four-star Grand Prix riding Nikey HH. At Vejer De La Frontera in Spain, Cork’s Billy Twomey finished third in the three-star Grand Prix with Chat Botte E.D. There was also a third place finish for Matt Garrigan and the Irish Sport Horse HHS Seattle in Saturday’s three-star Grand Prix at Leeuwarden in The Netherlands.

Breeding details

HHS Seattle (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Pacino (BWP) out of HHS Chantilly Lace (ISH) by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Breeder: Anne Hughes, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Matt Garrigan (IRL).

Source: Horse Sport Ireland press release