Equestrian: Ireland's Cian O'Connor has won the jump-off class at the five-star show at Olympia's International Horseshow today.
O'Connor was quickest in a 14 rider jump-off on Aileen Bryan's Rancorrado, beating Belgium's Phillipe Le Jeune by nearly a second with his main horse Rancorrado.
A pole down in the second round with Upsilon d'Ocquier, denied Ireland's Denis Lynch of a certain runner-up spot.
"I used to watch Olympia on TV when I was a kid and always dreamt of riding here," said an emotional O'Connor afterwards. "But to win such a major competition is just more than I could ever have wished for.
"I'm over the moon, absolutely delighted."
He will now be out to follow up this win in the main class of the week, the £62,000 Rolex World Cup Qualifier on Sunday afternoon.
At the five-star La Coruna show in Spain, Cork's Billy Twomey landed the 1.50m speed event on the Dutch-bred stallion Goldex.
