Offaly rider enjoys US victory

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny got off to a flying start at a showjumping event in America last night.

Riding the 12-year-old stallion Chic Chic, Kenny proved unbeatable in the 13-way jump-off to land the 1.50m ranking class at the CSI5* in Williamsburg.

Owned by Vlock Show Stables, Chic Chic continues to impress this season, having already won a 1.50m ranking class in the CSI5* in Calgary this June and has picked up multiple top ten international placings.

Fellow Irish riders Shane Sweetnam and Andrew Bourns finished inside the top ten in the same class, and Conor Swail narrowly missed out on a top ten placing with Calciet Eb Z, coming home in 11th. Owned by Hot Horses LLC, this 10-year-old mare is progressing up the ranks nicely.

Sweetnam, who will represent Ireland in the FEI Longines Nations Cup for the Aga Khan Trophy, was eighth riding Gilona AO – a 13-year-old mare owned in partnership between Popish Farms LLC, Seabrook LLC and Sweetnam himself.

Bourns was on board the Irish Sport Horse, Sea Topblue, and claimed ninth place.

In the CSI2* show at the same venue, Swail won the 1.45m ranking class with Count Me In, owned by Sandy Lupton and Mannon Farm.