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Only twelve combinations started in the thrilling second phase of the Equita Masters in Lyon. One of these combinations was Pieter Devos with Gin D, an eleven-year-old stallion by Clinton I x Skippy II. They claimed the first place after a stunning round of 38,9 seconds. The second place went to American rider Lauren Hough with Waterford (Coolcorron Cool Diamond). They were a little bit slower than Devos and Gin D with a time of 39,22 seconds. Italian rider Alberto Zorzi and Contango (Catoki) went clear in 39,93 seconds and took the third place.
The best French round came from Penelope Leprevost and Urano de Cartigny (Diamant de Semilly). They also went clear in the second phase and came in fourth. The young Irish rider Bertram Allen and Gin Chin vh Lindenhof, an eleven-year-old gelding by Chin Chin, took the fifth place.
Click here for the complete result.

Co Louth’s Mark McAuley recorded one of the biggest wins of his career to-date, with victory in last night’s (Friday) five-star Longines Grand Prix at Lyon’s World Cup show in France.
 McAuley, who was a vital member of the Irish team at several rounds of the FEI Nations Cup series during the 2017 season, guided the Eva Lundin-owned 13-year-old gelding Miebello to the fastest clear jump-off round in 34.38 seconds to take the winners prize of €25,000.
Thirteen combinations made it through to the second round with McAuley the sole Irish representative. He outpaced former World No.1, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, who had to settle for second place with Bianca (34.77), while the home crowd saw Penelope Leprevost take third spot on the podium for France riding Vagabond de la Pomme (34.97).

Thursday evening at the CP National Horse Show featured the $130,000 CP Grand Prix International Open Jumpers CSI4*-W. Competing for the first time at the historic event, Great Britain's Emily Moffitt claimed one of the biggest wins of her career to date, along with the Walter B. Devereux Memorial Challenge Trophy, aboard Hilfiger Van De Olmenhoeve.

Course designer Michel Vaillancourt tested 43 international horses and athletes over a 13-fence track in the first round. Out of the 18 combinations who jumped clear, only 14 returned to battle it out in the jump-off, while others elected to save their mounts for Saturday's highly anticipated $250,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Lexington CSI4*-W.

Beezie Madden (USA) was the first to navigate the short course with no faults, piloting Darry Lou, owned by Abigail Wexner, to a time of 37.260 seconds.

The Hanoverian licensed stallion Riccione has passed away at his home, Hans and Sandra Grunder's stable, in Switzerland. The 21-year old bay stallion broke his pelvis in his stall and had to be euthanized on 31 October 2017.
"We are very sad and we will not forgot this guy who was top fit until his last hour. He has made our stud farm famous in Switzerland and across the borders," said owner Sandra Gunder.
 
Bred by Heinrich Ehlers in Freiburg, Germany, Riccione was by Regazzoni out of state premium mare Arosa (by Arogno/T x Bolero)
 
He was licensed at the Hanoverian stallion licensing in 1998, but only did his stallion performance test three years later in 2011 in Neustadt/Dosse. He scored a total of 137.64 points which ranked him second overall. He earned 144.89 points for dressage (1st) and 107.02 points for show jumping (16th)