Denis Lynch wins La Baule Grand Prix

Denis Lynch rounded off a superb Irish weekend at the five-star show in La Baule, France with a decisive win in the Grand Prix this afternoon (Sunday), taking the winner's prize purse of 28,000 euro.

The 31 year-old Irish rider, who had clocked up Ireland's only clear round in Friday's Super League Nations' Cup, was second to go in a nine-horse jump-off this afternoon with Flaminia Straumann's 11 year-old gelding 'Lantinus', and set a blistering pace on a zero penalty score. Only France's

Olivier Robert managed to leave all fences standing in pursuit of the Irishman, but had to settle for the runner-up spot when he stopped the clock over two seconds slower than Lynch.

Britain's best hope in the Grand Prix, Nick Skelton and the legendary 'Arko', dropped a fence in their attempt to match Lynch's speed, and ended in third position overall.

Afterwards a jubilant Lynch said: “I wasn't at all sure I was going to win, and I went into the jump-off with the intention of just leaving all the fences up. But the horse is naturally quick, and his finishing time put the rest under pressure. I am absolutely delighted.”

Ireland took equal second place in the Nations' Cup at la Baule after a year out of the Super League, and Capt.

Shane Carey recorded a hat-trick of wins at the French venue during the weekend with the Minister for Defence's 16 year-old gelding 'Killossery', who subsequently took the La Baule Leading Horse Award.