Coyle and Swail on top in big money US shows

Derry rider Coyle was part of the Lucky Charms Irish trio of Andrew Bourns and selected Tokyo Olympics rider Shane Sweetnam who won the inaugural $6 million tour opening event at Great Lakes Show, Traverse, Michigan.

The new MLSJ Major League Showjumping Tour comprises of 10 shows and eight teams of three riders, with Coyle, Bourns and Sweetnam’s Lucky Charms team taking the honours in the opening $200,000 event. Paul O’Shea’s Eye Candy team were runners up.

Coyle and his multiple winning Picador, owned by Elan Farms, were the fastest combination of the whole event, nearly three seconds faster than any other rider.

Shane Sweetnam said: “Jordan Coyle was the best man for the second round.”

Saintfield native Swail was unstoppable with three wins at the Tryon International in North Carolina, taking the $25,000 Classic with Koss Van Heiste and runner up on his new horse, Count Me In.

He also claimed the $73,000 Cleghorn Grand Prix with Vital Chance de la Roque and the two star $6,000 Speed Stakes on board Theo 160. Vital Chance also finished runner up in the $37,000 Horseware Ireland Stakes.

A delighted Swail added: “I have a very good group of horses all starting to peak at the right time. Vital Chance is very fast, a little feisty but we have a good partnership and I hope this continues.”

In Dinard, France Dermott Lennon won the 1.45m International with MJM Pursuit while Denis Lynch and the 14 year old stallion Cristello were runners up in the Rolex Grand Prix.

The Ulster Region Mid Antrim Grand Prix went to Simon Scott with Ploverfield Lilyana, his first win after a year off following a head injury while 19 year old Dylan Ward, from Castlewellan, has won two Young Riders qualifiers for National Dublin Horse Show.

This weekend sees the Necarne Showjumping Youngster tour at Castle Irvine, Irvinestown with Balmoral Show qualifiers at Ravensdale and The Meadows, Lurgan.