Irish Olympian Kevin Babington and The Irish Sport Horse Mark Q came out on top in Thursday’s $72,000 Equinimity Challenge Cup at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, USA, where Irish riders were in superb form filling three of the top four places. Just six of the 65 starters managed to jump clear in the opening round with Carrick On Suir-born Babington drawn second last to go against the clock. Carly Anthony (USA) and Clochard had set the time to beat at 44.13 seconds, however Babington and his longtime partner, a 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding whom Babington owns himself along with Deirdre Bourns, shaved off more than four seconds to ultimately clinch the win with a time of 40.03. Fellow Irishman, Offaly’s Darragh Kenny, was last to go aboard Chinook II, owned by Veronica Tracy, and a time of 40.84 would secure second-place and relegate Anthony and Clochard to […]
