Offaly rider second in major US Grand Prix

Offaly's Darragh Kenny and his horse Volnay Du Boisdeville finished second in a major US Grand Prix this weekend.

Darragh Kenny was narrowly beaten in the 406,000 CHF 1.60m Grand Prix at the CSI5 show in Wellington International in the early hours of this morning. Riding the 14-year-old stallion Volnay Du Boisdeville owned by Teddy Vlock and Vlock Show Stables LLC, he jumped clear in both rounds and recorded an impressive time 45.09 seconds in the jump off.

Kenny stopped the home nation from filling the top four places. McLain Ward won the Grand Prix. Riding Callas, he was a second faster than anyone else in the jump off, winning in a time of 44.03 seconds. This is the first international win for the 15-year-old mare and Ward, who have only been a combination since June last year.

Filling third place was American rider Kent Farrington with Landan. Natalie Dean completed the American trio finishing in fourth place with Acota M. A time fault in the first round kept Irish rider Daniel Coyle and Gisborne VDL from the jump off.

The Florida venue has proved a fruitful venue for Irish riders this week. On Thursday Irish riders filled four places within the top ten in the 75,000 CHF 1.55m Ranking Class. Wexford's Bertram Allen won with class with the Irish Sport Horse Pacino Amiro. Down's Conor Swail partnered Count Me In to second place. Galway's Andrew Bourns and the Irish Sport Horse Sea Topblue were fifth and Darragh Kenny and Chic Chic were ninth.