Kurten wins top Swedish event
Sunday, 28 February 2010 17:01Ireland's Jessica Kurten won the Swedish World Cup Qualifier
class at Gothenburg's five-star show on Sunday.
Kurten led Lady Georgina Forbes's mare Castle Forbes Libertina to victory, while fellow Northerner Dermott Lennon claimed third place with Woods Rosbotham's gelding Hallmark Elite.
Forty-year-old Kurten now jumps to third place in the Rolex World Cup jumping rankings, winning €37,000 in prize money.
The two Irish riders were amongst nine who qualified for the jump-off from an international starting field of 39.
Fourth last to jump, Kurten galloped the mare to the final fence to beat Lennon's benchmark time by just over a second, and only Germany's Marco Kutscher prevented Ireland claiming the top two places.
A delighted Kurten said: 'Libertina has been in amazing form since she came back from injury.
'I'll now be trying to take her to the World Cup Final and then hopefully to the Global Champions' Tour.'
Team Ireland Equestrian show jumping manager Robert Splaine said:
'This is an outstanding win for Jessica and Libertina. Both horse and rider are real winners. They are a superstar combination.'
He also complimented former World Champion Dermott Lennon for his third place.
'For a small country to have two riders in the top three in a World Cup class is phenomenal,' he added.
