Tipperary's Denis Lynch goes close in five-star showjumping event in Germany

The Longines FEI Showjumping five-star competition took place in Leipzig at the weekend and Denis Lynch got it off to a very nice start with a silver medal in the opening international competition, a 1.45m speed class.

The Tipperary pilot combined with what he hopes is the appropriately named Zensation 2, and the 10-year-old certainly showed plenty of ability when scooting over the 14-jump course in 57.50 seconds.

The effort could be upgraded for the fact that the pair were just fourth of 53 into the arena.

Yet only one combination could improve upon that mark, and it was the home supporters celebrating when Germany’s Marvin Jüngel, with another grey, the 11-year-old Helene 50, stopped the clock in 57 seconds flat to take the spoils.

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On Saturday Lynch and Chicago, another 10-year-old, lodged a lovely double clear to finish sixth in the 1.55m jump-off class. Lynch was clearly intent on not asking his partner for too much in the decider, but another clear in a sedate 32.74 seconds undoubtedly left horse and rider feeling good about themselves.

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Victory went to Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and the outstanding Is-Minnka, who clocked 36.13 to win by almost two and a half seconds from German Gerrit Nieberg, with IB Queen.