Top Irish showjumper Billy Twomey have won the Rolex IRJC top 10 final at the Gucci Masters in Paris (2-4 December).
Billy and Tinka’s Serenade, owned by Ed and Sue Davies, became the the Rolex Top Ten Champions.
The competition has the top ten riders in the world go head-to-head over two rounds. The second round is against the clock and all faults count.
“It was a great win, she jumped really well,” said Billy, who is based in Nottingham.
Billy was fault-free in the second round against the clock and won the €58,000 prize ( £49,600). Eric Lamaze was second and Ludger Beerbaum third.
Billy added: “Tinka’s Serenade is good at rollbacks anyway so I knew that was the place to win it – whereas Eric’s horse has got the natural pace.
“It was over quite quickly after that as [last-drawn] Rolf-Goran Bengtsson had the second fence down. I think I was jumping up and down on the podium!
“It’s good to have a different class like that – I was surprised how much interest there was in it. The riders all took it very seriously – it seemed that this was the one they all wanted to win.
“I’m delighted with how my mare performed. It’s a great win for me and everyone involved so I’m very happy.”
Also at the Gucci Masters Hertfordshire based Ben Maher won the CSI***** Prix Le Figaro on Friday (2 December) with 9-year-old gelding Tripple X III
