THE 2025 Dublin Horse Show has come to a close at the RDS in Ballsbridge where American rider Laura Kraut and the 11-year-old mare Bisquetta emerged as winners of the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland, with what was the only clear round of the competition.

A field of 40 of the world's top horses and riders battled to find the illusive clear round, but it wasn't until Kraut entered the arena as second-last to jump before the audience saw their first and only combination to emerge fault free.

Former Irish show jumping manager, Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom finished as runners-up with the fastest of 11 four-fault scores while Cork's Shane Sweetnam finished best of the Irish in third place on the podium with the Patrick Connolly-bred CSF James Kann Cruz (ISH).

Laura Kraut, who is the first female winner since 2011, was emotional after winning. “Dublin is one of those that is on your bucket list, along with Aachen and maybe Rome.

"I am very excited; I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to win this today and at my age (59)! Thanks to Alan for building a course that suited my horse perfectly. It was not unfair, it was just very careful and had to be ridden perfectly.”

Kraut’s partner, the legendary Nick Skelton, has won the Dublin Grand Prix five times so she admitted she was feeling the pressure. “I heard that a lot… that he won Dublin five times and Aachen four times! He was great, but he did say half way through ‘this is the perfect class, you just get in there and be the only clear!’ I stuck with my plan and I had confidence. I cannot tell you how good Bisquetta was.”

Shane Sweetnam said: “My day was a bit weird. I was second to go and thought he jumped great but expected a few clears so I thought it was over. It got exciting as the class went on, it felt a bit old fashioned! Laura was immaculate and deserved her win. I was very happy with Gizmo; I think if I went later I could have jumped a clear – I was just a little bit tight back to fence three and made a mistake but I am thrilled with the result.”

Commdt Curran win

Although the Rolex Grand Prix and Friday's Aga Khan illuded the Irish, they did dominate the remaining international competitions at the Dublin Horse Show, scoring no less than eight five-star wins throughout the week.

The penultimate competition in the main arena saw Waterford's Commandant Geoff Curran and the Paul Douglas-bred DHF Alliance (ISH) take victory in the Speed Championship. A blistering clear round in 60.57 seconds saw them push Dutch rider Kevin Jochems and Prada Di Costa (61.04) into second, ahead of Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa in third with Dhalida (61.41).

Sunday morning's action saw Wexford's Bertram Allen and the seven-year-old gelding Next Coret come out on top in the International seven/eight-year-olds competition. Cian O'Connor and Pegasus finished as runners-up ahead of Michael Pender in third with the Brendan McSorley-bred stallion HHS Flonix (ISH).

Young horses

Tyrone's Niamh McEvoy's winning run at the Dublin Horse Show continued on Sunday morning as she came out on top in the Six-year-old 'Cruising' National Championship with the Ennisnag Stud-bred BP Othello (ISH). A second round clear in 34.35 saw them finish over four seconds faster than the only other double clear which came from Vincent Byrne and Belle Mai, while Harry Wood finished third with Juana Moussardiere.

The 5 Year Old 'Flexible' National Championship saw Shane Dalton and the WSI-approved stallion, Unicum - H owned by Ennisnag Stud, Andrew Hughes and Westbury Stud, take the win ahead of Tabitha Kyle and Ottani Z in second and Jack Kent with Castlefield Tycoon in third.

BREEDING

CSF James Kann Cruz (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Kannan out of CSF Telly Cruz by Cruising, bred by Patrick Connolly owned by Gizmo partners LLC. Ridden by Shane Sweetnam

HHS Flonix (ISH). 2018, Stallion by Aganix Du Seigneur (SBS) out of Echo Peach (ISH), by Clover Echo (ISH)[TIH]. Bred by Brendan McSorley, Co. Tyrone.

BP Othello (ISH) 2019 gelding by Ganesh Hero Z (ZANG). Dam: Adelheid (KWPN) by Tygo (KWPN). Breeder: Ennisnag Stud. Owned by Michael & Fiona Roche. Rider Niamh McEvoy.

Source: Edited press release from Irish Horse Board