Kurten takes second place in Leipzig

Ireland’s Jessica Kurten finished second in the Leipzig Championship competition at the German World Cup show on Saturday.

One of just seven combinations to go clear from a starting field of
46, the 40 year-old Irish rider and Lady Georgina Forbes' mare
Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois trailed World number 1 Albert Zoer from the Netherlands by just eight-tenths of a second in the final round.

Germany's last-to-go Olympic gold medallist Marcus Ehning threatened to take the runner-up place from Kurten with a faster time, but clipped a single pole to finish in fifth overall.

Kurten took €4,800 in prize money for her place.

Following yesterday's preliminary competition at Leipzig, three Irish riders have qualified for Sunday afternoon's Rolex World Cup qualifier at the five-star show.

Antrim-born Kurten will battle it out with Tipperary's Denis
Lynch and Meath-based Cian O'Connor for the €120,000 euro on offer in the show's main feature class, which will also yield valuable World Cup points to add to the riders' overall rankings.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI5*-W/CAI-W LEIPZIG GERMANY JANUARY 21 – 24 2010

Leipzig Championship
International show jumping
FEI - Table A Art. 238.2.2 1m50
Saturday January 23, 2010

1) Sam; Albert Zoer (NED) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 34.51
2) Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois; Jessica Kurten (IRL) Faults
0.00/0.00 Time 35.35
3) Casall La Silla; Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time
35.70

46 starters