EQUESTRIAN SPORT: Jessica Kürten returned to winning ways at the Dutch World Cup fixture in s'Hertogenbosch, claiming the late-finishing BMC winner-takes-all Masters on Thursday night

The world number two brought out the 10-year-old gelding Laurus to produce three clear rounds to psyche out and wipe out six of her seven rivals, reducing the field to just two for a head-to-head decider with the home-side favourite, Piet Raymakers.

The 49-year-old Dutchman, team gold and individual silver medallist at the Barcelona Olympics, was first in to set the pace, but his time of 36.31 seconds was rendered almost irrelevant when Van Schijndel's Now Or Never lowered a fence. That left Kürten with the luxury of going for a slow clear, and she took the option with ease, recording yet another clean sheet to claim the honours.

World Cup champion Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who heads to the finals in Kuala Lumpur at the end of next month to defend her title, shared third place with another Dutchman, Eric van der Vleuten, after both faulted in the fourth round.

Kürten is the sole Irish flag-flyer at the Dutch show and is aiming the mare Quibell at tomorrow's World Cup qualifier. Currently in a share of eighth place on 48 points, she is already guaranteed a place on the starting grid in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, Niall Talbot finished third in yesterday's two-phase at the French fixture in Auvers. Talbot and Hobby du Trimbolot were fast and clear, but not fast enough to dislodge the two French leaders. Florian Angot was first in 23.03 seconds, with Marie Hecart more than a second off the pace for the runner-up spot, a mere .16 ahead of Talbot.