TIPPERARY’S Denis Lynch once again showed his consistency at the top level of the sport with a runner-up finish in the 1.60m Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Riyadh on Saturday. Lynch was among 40 starters, including some of the most successful combinations in international show jumping at present, 11 of whom jumped clear in the first round to earn a place in the timed decider. The shortened course proved tricky enough and just six kept all the poles in place second time out.

In a nail-biting jump-off, Lynch and the 16-year-old stallion Cordial stopped the clock in 43.66 seconds to hold the lead until the very last combination entered the arena. A determined Jana Wargers (GER) on the 16-year-old mare Dorette OLD was out for the win and jumped fault-free in a very fast time of 41.71 to claim the top prize of €168,300.