complete performance puts o'connor out in front
equestrian: Cian O'Connor kicked off with a win on Complete yesterday at the 5-Star World Cup show jumping fixture in Lyon, France, WRITES LOUISE PARKES.
Taking all the risks, the 29-year- old Meath-based rider pipped the host country's Patrice Deleveau by almost two seconds in the timed section of the Two-Phase class in which Ireland's Denis Lynch lined up eighth with Nabab's Son.
Deleveau is always super-fast, but, second into the ring, O'Connor cut a really tight line on the first turn to take out a stride, and Complete galloped home in a time that proved too quick for the rest of the 48 starters.
In just its third year, the French fixture has already reached World Cup standard and O'Connor will fly the Irish flag in the third leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series tomorrow afternoon.
Cameron Hanley and Jessica Kuerten are also competing at the show and, earlier yesterday, Kuerten steered Castle Forbes Vivaldo into sixth place in the Speed event. Meanwhile at home, the Duggan family at Millstreet have caused a stir by announcing details of a major show jumping fixture at the Green Glens Arena immediately following the 2010 Dublin Horse Show.
A disagreement over an insurance claim led to tension between the Millstreet family and Showjumping Ireland (SJI) some time ago and Millstreet Show Director, Thomas Duggan, last night confirmed to The Irish Independent that next year's event will be "unaffiliated and indepen-dent", which may set them on course for another clash with SJI.
- Louise Parkes
Irish Independent
