Latest news with #RolexGrandPrix
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Kraut goes clear to take Grand Prix on final day at RDS
The 2025 Dublin Horse Show has come to a close at the RDS in Ballsbridge where American rider Laura Kraut and the 11-year-old mare Bisquetta emerged as winners of the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland with what the only clear round of the competition. A field of 40 of the world's top horses and riders battled to find the illusive clear round, but it wasn't until Kraut entered the arena as second-last to jump before the audience saw their first and only combination to emerge fault free. Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom finished as runners-up with the fastest of 11 four-fault scores while Cork's Shane Sweetnam finished best of the Irish in third place on the podium with the Patrick Connolly-bred CSF James Kann Cruz (ISH). Former Olympic and World champion Laura Kraut went 39th of 40 riders and won the Grand Prix with the only clear round on Bisquetta 📺 Watch The Dublin Horse Show on @RTEOne and @RTEPlayer #RDSDublinHorseShow — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 10, 2025 Although the Rolex Grand Prix and Friday's Aga Khan illuded the Irish, they did dominate the remaining international competitions at the Dublin Horse Show, scoring no less than eight five-star wins throughout the week. The penultimate competition in the main arena saw Waterford's Commandant Geoff Curran and the Paul Douglas-bred DHF Alliance (ISH) take victory in the Speed Championship. A blistering clear round in 60.57 seconds saw them push Dutch rider Kevin Jochems and Prada Di Costa (61.04) into second, ahead of Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa in third with Dhalida (61.41). Sunday morning's action saw Wexford's Bertram Allen and the 7-year-old gelding Next Coret come out on top in the International 7&8-year-olds competition. Cian O'Connor and Pegasus finished as runners-up ahead of Michael Pender in third with the Brendan McSorley-bred stallion HHS Flonix (ISH). "I'm just so proud of this mare" - Rolex Grand Prix champion Laura Kraut salutes her mount Bisquetta, who produced the only clear round on the day 📺 The Dublin Horse Show on @RTEOne and @RTEPlayer #RDSDublinHorseShow — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 10, 2025 Tyrone's Niamh McEvoy's winning run at the Dublin Horse Show continued on Sunday morning as she came out on top in the Six-year-old 'Cruising' National Championship with the Ennisnag Stud-bred BP Othello (ISH). A second round clear in 34.35 saw them finish over four seconds faster than the only other double clear which came from Vincent Byrne and Belle Mai, while Harry Wood finished third with Juana Moussardiere. The 5 Year Old 'Flexible' National Championship saw Shane Dalton and the WSI-approved stallion, Unicum - H owned by Ennisnag Stud, Andrew Hughes & Westbury Stud, take the win ahead of Tabitha Kyle and Ottani Z in second and Jack Kent with Castlefield Tycoon in third.
Extra.ie
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
How many people are set to trot to RDS for the Dublin Horse Show?
More than 120,000 people are set to flock to the RDS for the Dublin Horse Show, which kicks off tomorrow. While 1,800 horses and ponies, and their riders, battle it out in the historic D4 arena for more than €1.4million in prize money, the crowds will be enjoying the view, the shopping and the hospitality. The show, which brings in around €50 million to the Irish and local economy, runs from tomorrow until Sunday and costs over €7 million to stage. It has come a long way from the first ever Dublin Horse Show in 1864, which attracted 366 entries for a total prize fund of £520. More than 120,000 people are set to flock to the RDS for the Dublin Horse Show, which kicks off tomorrow. Pic: Getty Images It is estimated that 40,000 ice cream cones will be consumed, along with 35,000 glasses of wine, 40,000 pints and 15,000 coffees. Approximately 40,000 flowers of 20 different varieties will decorate the 43 acres of the D4 showgrounds, while 7,600 bales of shavings and 4,200 bales of hay have been brought in for the horses. Those with their eye on the style may be tempted to enter Thursday's best dressed competition, with €10,000 in cash up for grabs for the chosen fashionista. Poretti has sponsored the lucrative top prize for the best-dressed person, while the runner-up will receive two nights' bed and breakfast at the five-star Morrison Dublin hotel, plus two nights' B&B at The Trafalgar St James Hotel in London and a €100 travel voucher. Emma Green and Highview Pickpocket at the RDS ahead of the Dublin Horse Show. Pic: ©Fran Veale/Julien Behal Photography The winner of the best hat design will scoop a €2,000 Ireland's Blue Book luxury gift voucher, while there are other prizes for Irish heritage and sustainability style, and best duo. Entrants can register online now, with co-judge Bairbre Power advising them to focus on the three Cs – colour, comfort and confidence. In the show ring, over 168 national and international competitions will be held, including the prestigious Aga Khan Nations Cup on Friday, the Defender Puissance on Saturday and the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday. The RDS Concert Hall has an exhibition detailing 150 years of Dublin Horse Show history, while the grounds are packed with food and drink options, ranging from seafood and champagne to the Swing Grill and churros. The Bray-based Festina Lente charity returns for its second year to showcase the transformative benefits of equine therapy and its impact on society. The event will also feature its own 'Pop-Up Gaeltacht', showcasing the rich heritage of the Irish language. Meanwhile, Spanish horseman Santi Serra will return to the RDS with his unique and breathtaking equestrian entertainment in the main ring. Born into a family that breeds Arabian horses in Spain, Serra is an exceptional exponent of 'natural dressage' and first performed at the RDS with no tack in 2016. The trade stands are traditionally one of the biggest draws to the show, and the setting-up was in full swing yesterday, with more than 350 exhibitors.
RTÉ News
07-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Ireland complete hat-trick of La Baule Nations Cup wins
For the third time in history, the Irish show jumping team emerged as winners of the five-star Nations Cup of France in La Baule. In a team that included a mixture of youth and experience, they were pushed all the way by Belgium, but it was the Irish who came out on top at the French seaside venue after a flawless display. Ireland arrived in La Baule on the back of a Nations Cup win last weekend in British Columbia and knew they would face an event tougher test in La Baule where a world class field had assembled. Wexford's Bertram Allen got Ireland off to the perfect start when he jumped clear as the first rider to enter the arena with 9-year-old gelding Qonquest De Rigo. Seamus Hughes Kennedy and ESI Rocky (ISH) were next to go, fresh from an impressive fourth-place finish in the Rolex Grand Prix of Rome a week earlier. They delivered a textbook clear to keep Ireland on a zero score. Tom Wachman with Tabasco De Toxandria Z then picked up 8 faults, but that could be discarded when anchor rider Cian O'Connor jumped clear with the 14-year-old gelding Bentley De Sury. That left Ireland on a zero score at the half-way stage and in a tie for the lead with Belgium. The second round saw Allen again jump clear, while Nicola Philippaerts matched the score for Belgium to keep the two nations out in front. Hughes Kennedy then added another Irish clear, and when 20-year-old Wachman also jumped clear second time out, Ireland were guaranteed to finish on a zero score without the need for Cian O'Connor to jump in the second round. With Peter Devos having one fence down in his second round, Belgium's final rider, Gilles Thomas, had to jump clear to force a jump-off with Ireland. Thomas picked up four faults at the second fence in what was an otherwise perfect round meaning Ireland were clear winners as the only team to finish on a zero score. Belgium finished second on four faults, while Brazil took third place on the podium with 8 faults.
