Kurten wins the Swiss Grand Prix

Jessica Kurten from Ireland kept up her recent remarkable run of form on the international show jumping circuit with a win tonight (Thursday) in the Grand Prix at Zurich, Switzerland.

The 36 year-old Irish rider steered the bay mare 'Quibell' through a clear first round at the five star show, and in the eleven-horse jump-off crossed the line under half a second ahead of Swiss ace Beat Mandli to pick up a 20,000 euro winner's purse.

The Grand Prix victory tonight is Kurten's fifth win on the European circuit during the last fortnight, the most notable being the quarter-million-dollar Grand Prix prize in Dubai on January 13.

Results (26.01.06)
CSI***** Zurique – 238.2.2 – 1,50m
Table A with jump-off.

1º Quibell / Jessica Kürten / Irl: 0/0/40.08s
2º Ideo Du Thot / Beat Mändli / Swi: 0/0/40.30
3º Candy / Alois Pollmann Schweckhorst / Ger: 0/0 41.20
4º Checkmate / Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum / Ger: 0/0/42.72
5º Quo Vadis / Peter Wylde / USA: 0/0/43.14
6º Octavia / Jurgen Stenfert / Hol: 0/0/43.54
7º Plot Blue / Werner Muff /Swi: 0/0/45.58
8º No Mercy / Christina Liebherr / Swi: 0/4/43.43
9º Sandro Boy / Marcus Ehning / Ger: 0/4/46.58
10º Spender S / Maria Gretzer / Sue: 0/8/45.51