Sweetnam and McEvoy jump to Wellington Grand Prix podium finishes

Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam and rising star Niamh McEvoy finished second and third in the $215,000 MARS Equestrian CSI4* Grand Prix at Wellington International last night. The pair were pipped to victory by Germany’s Richard Vogel and Cydello in a jump-off where the trio were the only combinations to go double clear. Vogel and Cydello’s jump-off time of 43.22 seconds edged them a half a second ahead of Sweetnam and Paris mount James Kann Cruz (ISH), owned by Gizmo Partners, who ended up second. In third was the only other double-clear combination, McEvoy and Jargon DN, owned by GBBS International. McEvoy also won the Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award for WEF 4 after a fantastic week. Ireland’s Jordan Coyle and Chaccolino also ended up in the top 10 with a ninth-place finish.