Denis Lynch took the biggest Irish share of prize money in today's Global Champions Tour competition at Arezzo, Italy, when he finished in eighth place on Thomas Straumann's 11-year-old bay gelding Lantinus.
Tipperary-born Lynch also recorded the only Irish double clear round of the major contest, which saw 49 riders battle for their share of the €285,000 prize fund and valuable world ranking points.
Meath-based Cian O'Connor and the Danish-bred gelding Complete were first of the three Irish competitors to be knocked out of the contest when they lowered a single pole in the opening round, and while Lynch and 39 year-old Jessica Kurten both managed to be included in the 18 riders allowed through for the second round, all did not go smoothly for Kurten.
With Lady Georgina Forbes's mare Quibell, the Antrim rider collected a total of 16 faults on her second foray into the Global Champions arena, and was denied a chance at the ten-horse jump-off.
Lynch went clear on 'Lantinus' but dropped a fence in the jump-off to finish in eighth overall and take home prize money of €4,750.
German winner Marco Kutscher on the appropriately named Cash went clear in all three rounds, and was rewarded with €95,000.
