Tenth to jump in a 39-strong field, Cork’s Billy Twomey took the honours at this afternoon’s speed class at the five-star World Cup show in Zurich, Switzerland.

With Joe Flynn’s 13 year-old Irish-bred grey stallion Ardcolum Duke, Twomey set a remarkable leading time of 54.69 seconds, and despite the best efforts of the remaining international competitors, he held off all challengers, including fellow-countryman Denis Lynch with Echo de Laubry.

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Billy Twomey and Ardcolum Duke in action at Zurich today

At the close of play, Colombian rider Carlos Enrique Lopez Lizarazo with the bay mare Cuplandra came closest to the Irish combination, but finished almost two seconds adrift.

Lynch and Echo de Laubry had a foot-perfect round, but the Tipperary rider didn’t push the 13 year-old stallion to its limit and finished in 15th place overall.

Jack Burns