McAuley’s joy

AN excellent performance from Ardee show jumper Mark McAuley and the Eva Lundin-owned 13-year-old grey gelding Miebello saw them take fourth place in Sunday’s five-star Italian Grand Prix in Rome.McAuley (30), who is now based in Switzerland, was one of 12 riders who made it into the jump-off and after being drawn second last to go against the clock, he lowered a single fence with Miebello in a time of 46.76.

The fourth place was worth a prize of €20,000 to McAuley, capping an excellent few days after he had earlier scored a win in Rome on Thursday and also helped Ireland to a joint third-place finish in the Italian Nations Cup.