Cork’s Billy Twomey snatched the 70,000 euro first prize in yesterday afternoon’s (Sunday) Grand Prix in Basel, Switzerland, beating German challenger Marcus Ehning by just three-tenths of a second.
The 33 year-old show jumper, currently ranked seventh in the World Jumping Rankings, piloted the 14 year-old mare ‘Tinka’s Serenade’, which he owns jointly with Sue Davies.
Twomey was one of 16 top international riders in the St. Jakobshalle arena to make it through to the second round on a zero score from a start list of 47. After beating Ehning’s time, the Cork-born rider then had to wait while another five combinations tried to best his effort, but none could produce the winning formula required.
Afterwards Team Ireland Equestrian’s show jumping manager Robert Splaine said: “This was a top performance from a top man on a top horse. My congratulations go to Billy and his owners.”
Earlier today at Basel, Ireland’s Denis Lynch produced a third place in the jump-off class with Thomas Straumann’s gelding “All Inclusive NRW”.
SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI5* BASEL SWITZERLAND JANUARY 13-16 2011
Basel Grand Prix International Jumping Competition Table A with Two Rounds 1m60 FEI Art. 273.3.3 Sunday January 16 2011
1) Tinka’s Serenade; Billy Twomey (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 39.59 2) Noltes Kuchengirl; Marcus Ehning (GER) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 39.89 3) As-Taro; Luciana Diniz (POR) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 40.69
