Irish supremacy at Tuscany Tour in Arezzo

Ireland dominated in the second week of the Show Jumping fixtures in Tuscany. Conor Swail led the Irish whitewash of the top three places at this weekend’s Arezzo three-star Grand Prix, followed by fellow countrymen Peter Moloney and Alexander Butler, respectively second and third. Danemark’s Andreas Schou claimed the piccolo Gran Prix of the Silver Tour.
After a tough competition among six riders, Swail and his 10-year-old gelding Domino van de Valhoeve (Lord Z x Concorde) posted the fastest double clear of a six-horse jump-off, crossing the line in 40.03 seconds to take the top prize.
 
‘Today it was really fantastic, at last!,’ the rider said at the end of the event. ‘Last week, despite my excellent performance without penalties, I couldn’t do better than a third and fourth place. This time it went as I wished and I can say that I have an extraordinary horse. After being in OLiva, we spent two weekd at top here in Arezzo, and my horses could profit from the good job done on these top courses.’
Swail was followed in second by Peter Moloney, one of the stars of the previous week at the Tuscany Tour: riding d’Atlantique Royale, he stopped the clock in 40.84 seconds but it was not enough to claim the top spot.
Alexander Butler filled third place for Ireland with Theoreme du Desir on 42.45 seconds.
Among the Italians, Matilde Giorgia Bianchi with her stallion Lejano secured the sixth place.
Also the Silver Tour saw a north European supremacy: Denmark’s Andreas Schou atop of Deauville Van Overis Z won the Piccolo Grand Prix with a double clear in 37.92. Behind him Germany’s Tina Deuerer with Smint 2 finished second (0/0 in 38.87), while Sweden’s Alexander Zetterman was third on Lucky Lisa (0/0 in 41.01).
The third week of the Tuscany Tour is scheduled on Tuesday, March 27, with the five-, six- and seven-year-old young horses on show.
Press Release Toscana Tour