McEntee thrilled to rack up more trophy success
BANBRIDGE showjumper John McEntee (16) has followed up his Stuttgart FEI Pony Cup win last month by taking the highly acclaimed Paris Pony Masters Lami Cell Championship.
The current European team gold medallist has been described by the French as “definitely one to watch for the future”.
McEntee (below) won on Carrickaduff Pet and said: “This is my last year in ponies before I move onto horses. I only started riding this pony in September. It was great to win the first Pony Speed Masters in Paris and I also took a fourth. The courses were difficult with fences coming up quick off the corner.
“I walked both Paris tracks with my dad, Alo, and Marion Hughes, who told me to start off with a good canter and make it easy to get the distances.”
McEntee’s winning time of 51.59 in the Lami Cell Cup was well ahead of Dutch rider Pam Nieuwenhuis’s, who went clear in 53.17 on Zeppe van de Ijsseldijo, and Great Britain’s Shaunie Greig, clear in 53.88. He will now prepare for the Mechelen Show in Belgium on Boxing Day.
GB’s Louise Simpson, who is married to Londonderry showjumper David Simpson, finished second in the Land Rover two star 1.45 Grand Prix in Paris with Calvaro’s Up to Date.
Strabane’s Jonathan Smyth with Crystal Tom won the 1.40m leg of the SJI Autumn Grand Prix series in Cavan, while John Floody and Donevan Erkindale claimed the 1.35m Autumn GP leg. Smyth earlier took both Grand Prix events at the Portmore Winter Championships.