EQUESTRIAN SPORTS

BILLY TWOMEY’S good run of form continued at the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham yesterday when he won his second competition within 24 hours and also picked up a third placing.

The Cork-born rider landed the day’s first international event, the 1.50m speed class with his successful partner from Thursday, the chestnut mare Fantasia, narrowly beating Britain’s Ellen Whitaker on Kanselier.

In the later 1.40m competition, the extended Whitaker clan took revenge with Robert winning on Rusedski II and John filling the runner-up slot with Lactic 2. Twomey finished third on Whinny Jackson.

HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW in Birmingham, England Vinopolis Trophy, 1.50m speed: 1, Sweden’s Touch (Linda Heed) 0, 56.93; 2, Britain’s Pandur (Graham Lovegrove) 0, 58.86; 3, Britain’s Lacroix (Robert Whitaker) 0, 59.29; 4, Britain’s Robin Hood (Ben Maher) 0, 60.46; 5, Vangelis (Robert Smith) 0, 61.12; 6, Ireland’s Je T’Aime Flameco (Billy Twomey) 0, 61.96; 26 starters.

Dick Turpin Stakes, 1.45m: 1, Ireland’s Fantasia (Billy Twomey) 0, 59.21; 2, Britain’s Kanselier (Ellen Whitaker) 0, 59.45; 3, Sweden’s Columbus H (Linda Heed) 0, 63.46; 4, Belgium’s Phaline K (Dirk Demeersman) 0, 64.42; 5, France’s Myself De Breve (Michel Hecart) 0, 64.71; 6, Australia’s True Love II (Matthew Williams) 0, 66.48; 25 starters.

Andrews Bowen Classic, 1.40m speed: 1, Britain’s Rusedski II (Robert Whitaker) 0, 55.54; 2, Britain’s Lactic 2 (John Whitaker) 0, 55.85; 3, Ireland’s Whinny Jackson (Billy Twomey) 0, 56.24; 4, France’s That’s Life (Michel Hecart) 0, 56.87; 5, Britain’s Temple Ryefield (Paul Barker) 0, 56.95; 6, Britain’s Galisco d’Or (Graham Lovegrove) 0, 57.37; 23 starters.