6 December 2015, 6.23pm
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Billy Twomey (oroginally from Monkstown, Co Cork) produced two outstanding rounds with 18 year-old Tinka’s Serenade to finish third in the five-star Longines Paris Masters Grand Prix this afternoon (Sunday).
File photo of Billy Twomey
The Corkman was one of 16 from a starting field of 45 to go clear in the first phase. One of the earliest to go in the jump-off Twomey grabbed the lead with a clear in 38.00 seconds, which for a while looked good enough for victory.
In a nail-biting finale, rider after rider failed to better the Irish pairing’s time until 3rd-last to jump Simon Delestre of France on Hermes Ryan crossed the beam in 37.94 to snatch the lead, only to be outpaced by last-one-in Patrice Delaveau, also of France, who thrilled the home crowd by getting Lacrimoso 3 HDC home in 36.08.
Afterwards Twomey, co-owner of Tinka’s Serenade with Sue Davies, paid tribute to his mount, saying he would continue to compete with her for as long as possible. “She’s been a really good servant to me for many years”, he said.
Four faults in the opening round ruled Bertram Allen and Romanov out of the reckoning.
Meanwhile In Salzburg, Austria, Tipperary rider Denis Lynch claimed 5th place in this afternoon’s four-star Grand Prix on board Icon d’Or.
