Irish rider Cian O'Connor kicked off the Irish attack at the World Cup show in Geneva Switzerland tonight with a win in the Speed Derby on his mare Zanoubia.
O'Connor was a late replacement for Shane Breen, whose horse was withdrawn from the Geneva trip for veterinary reasons, and displayed considerable verve in completing the 1m40 course just under a second ahead of German contender Christian Ahlmann.
O'Connor, however, was not alone in claiming prize money for the Irish in the opening competitions. Jessica Kurten steered her new horse Castle Forbes La Vie Du Fraigneau to a second place in the Young Horse Class, where Mayo's Cameron Hanley also claimed a fifth place with SIEC Livello.
Hanley was in the money again in the 1m45 jump-off competition with a fifth place on SIEC Concept, while Jessica Kurten claimed seventh, riding Jipey Dark.
