Ireland’s Dermott Lennon was triumphant in Friday night’s Longines Ranking class at the three star show at Millstreet in Co. Cork, writes Jack Burns.

Picking up just just under 8,500 euro for his victory, the Co. Down man fought off challenges from a largely British field, with just one other Irish rider – Chris Megahey – making it through to the seven horse jump-off.

Lennon, the 47 year-old former World Champion, was riding Rebecca McGoldrick’s bay mare Fleur IV, and showed his skill and experience by bringing her home a neat quarter of a second faster than Britain’s Holly Smith and the stallion Quality Old Joker, with another British rider, Louise Saywell with Mr. Darcy, slotting into third.

Chris Megahey had an unfortunate jump-off round, incurring 20 faults with Britt Megahey’s Seapatrick Cruise Cavalier, but still finished in seventh place.

The main Millstreet Grand Prix takes place on Sunday afternoon, with the maximum fence height going up to 1m60.