Billy Twomey won his first ever Global Champions Tour Grand Prix at Valencia, Spain, on Saturday with a sparkling performance over three rounds on Je t'Aime Flamenco.
One of just four to achieve a clear in the second round, 34 year-old Twomey was second last to go in the jump-off and took Sue Davies's bay stallion through a third faultless performance to go into the lead on time.
Last man in, Germany's former World number one, Ludger Beerbaum, made a valiant attempt to beat Twomey's jump-off speed, but failed by just under a second, leaving the Irishman to pick up the winner's €92,000 prize.
Afterwards, the Cork-born rider said: ‘The horse was just fantastic, he seemed to go better in each round. I've been to a lot of these Global Champions Tours, and it's nice to finally get one in the bag. I'm absolutely delighted.’
Team Ireland Equestrian's Show Jumping Manager Robert Splaine added: ‘This success is further proof of Billy's ongoing good form. He's a great man for the big occasion.’
Denis Lynch was the first rider not to lower a fence in the second round of the Grand Prix after many of the world's top riders failed to go clear, but the Tipperary man picked up a single time fault in the process and finished in fifth overall on Abbervail van het Dingeshof, with prize money of €16,000.
SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI5* VALENCIA SPAIN 5-8 MAY 2011
GRAND PRIX OF SPAIN
Global Champions Tour
International Jumping Competition
Two Rounds Against the Clock with One Jump Off
FEI Art. 273.3.4
1m60
Saturday, 7 May, 2011
1) Je t'Aime Flamenco; Billy Twomey (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00/0.00 Time 39.18
2) Gotha FRH; Ludger Beerbaum (GER) Faults 0.00/0.00/0.00 Time 40.04
3) VDL Groep Verdi; Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) Faults 0.00/0.00/0.00 Time 45.99
5) Abbervail van het Dingeshof; Denis Lynch (IRL) Faults 0.00/1.00 Time 73.05
43 starters
