Clement McMahon came within a split second of providing Ireland's first win at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show when galloping into second in the Power and Speed class yesterday afternoon.
The Co Monaghan rider is in joint-fourth in the Boswell Equestrian national Grand Prix league, but he has donned the green coat of Ireland for this week's action at the RDS and gave the crowd something to cheer about in an otherwise pretty flat class.
Drawn halfway through a massive startlist, McMahon was chasing the target set by third man in Julien Epaillard, but the Frenchman's time of 35.42 seconds looked eminently vulnerable as McMahon set sail with Hermes de Reve and the stallion produced just the right turn of hoof to slice off almost one and a half seconds to inject some life into the spectators as he took over the lead.
There was even more of a buzz about the arena when Cameron Hanley scooted round with Siec Concept to slot into third until being rapidly relegated by Dutchman Pete Raymakers, but Switzerland had the final say when Daniel Etter stole Clem McMahon's thunder, snatching victory and the winner's €4,500 pay cheque by the slimmest of margins, a mere .16 of a second to push McMahon down to the runner-up spot.
Cork rider Sarah Kate Quinlivan, who only got into the international startlists when Marion Hughes withdrew Heritage Transmission at the beginning of the week, gave it a great shot with the mare Newmarket Girl for fifth, with Cameron Hanley holding on for sixth at the finish.
Early leader Julien Epaillard clung on for third, but the Frenchman made sure of the biggest slice of the prize fund in the following Top Score when carding the only 1,400-point maximum. Epaillard and Kanthaka de Petra stopped the clock on 63.83 seconds to relegate Britain's early leader Robert Smith and net themselves a cool €6,600.
The Irish runners were pretty much off the pace, with Francis Connors best of the home side in eighth on Auto Cruz.
There was better news on the Irish front with the launch yesterday of a new addition to the international calendar at Belfast's Odyssey Arena.
The Northern Ireland International Horse Show, with a prize fund of £100,000, was officially launched at the RDS by former minister for agriculture and chairman of the Irish Horse Board Joe Walsh. The four-day international will run from October 19th-22th.