IRISH Show Jumping riders were in superb form across the Atlantic on Saturday, with Denis Lynch and Michael Duffy both finishing on the podium in the five-star Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Mexico City.
Just six combinations managed to jump clear in the opening round of the Mexican Grand Prix, with two of those coming from Ireland. Tipperary town-born Lynch was second to go against the clock with the 13-year-old gelding ‘Brooklyn Heights’ and they took the lead with a brilliant clear in 44.56 seconds. Galway’s Michael Duffy and ‘Zilton SL Z’ were second last to go and they crossed the line just three-hundredths of a second behind Lynch to move into second place.
It looked at that stage that an Irish one-two was on the cards, however, Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum claimed a dramatic victory when crossing the line five-hundredths of a second faster than Lynch with ‘Mila’ to take the winner’s prize of €100,000.
Lynch collected €60,000 for his runner-up finish, while Duffy pocketed €45,000 for placing third. As Beerbaum had already won a GCT Grand Prix earlier this season, runner-up Denis Lynch becomes the third athlete to qualify for the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix later this year in Prague.
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