Denis Lynch wins in Cannes after Ireland’s Barcelona disappointment

The Irish team failed to progress to the second round of the Furusiyya FEI Nations' Cup on Friday afternoon but there was a good result for the country in Cannes later in the evening when Denis Lynch won the 1.50m jump-off class with his own and Thomas Straumann's All Star 5.

The Tipperary native was one of just four from a starting line-up of 47 to go through to the second round where he recorded the fastest of three clears in 34.93. The Netherlands' Maikel van der Vleuten stopped the clock on 35.30 with VDL Groep Quatro while Germany's Daniel Deusser, riding Hidalgo G, finished third in 36.07. Julien Epaillard of France had a pole down in 33.93 with Cristallo A LM.

In Tryon, North Carolina, the Horseware Ireland 1.45m speed class was won in 65.1 by the USA combination of Karl Cook on Caillou 24. Ireland's Richie Moloney was second on Slieveanorra (65.8) with Shane Sweetnam placing third and fifth on Cyklon 1083 (67.31) and Buckle Up (76.29).

This weekend members of the Association of Irish Riding Clubs are competing at the annual two-day Festival at Stradbally Hall, Co Laois where a total of 2,138 entries have been made across the show jumping, dressage and showing sections.