Denis Lynch (IRL) and RMF Echo (Virus de Laubry x Feo) were the final winners of a sensational weekend of top sport at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Madrid. The Irishman pulled out a lightning fast jump-off round in front of passionate fans to take the COPA S.M. EL REY - Trofeo Volvo, beating Pieter Devos (BEL) with Apart (Larino x Burggraaf) and Cameron Hanley (IRL) with Eis Isaura (Tinka's Boy x Darco) in a ten rider showdown.

A delighted Lynch said: “He’s a naturally very quick horse. He gives his best, and I’m very lucky to have him, so thanks to Rushy Marsh [Farm]. We had a good shot to the last - we had a lucky rub, but you need luck to win like that!”

The final class of the weekend, also known as ‘The King’s Cup’ is part of the long-standing tradition with this weekend marking the 108th edition of the show in Madrid. The final day’s action drew a bumper crowd, with passionate fans lining the arena to watch the competition unfold in the dusky late afternoon sunlight.

Santiago Varela pulled out another cleverly designed course, using not only the flowing grass field’s gentle slopes but producing a mix of huge oxers with long distances contrasted with delicate verticals requiring shorter, collected strides. The water jump made another appearance, set in a calculated line and proved itself to be a true test for the riders to keep their rhythm.

First to go in the jump-off, Gerco Schroder (NED) put in a steady clear with the slower moving Glock’s Cognac Champblanc (Clearway x Caretino 2) to stop the clock at 43.47s, but knew he had a fast field behind him. Speed demon Alberto Zorzi (ITA) powered around the arena with Danique (Zento x Hamlet), another clear, and setting a new time to beat at 39.82s.

The crowd erupted as Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP) and Fidux (Malito de Reve x Voltaire) entered the arena for the final time this weekend. A brave turn back to a blue and red Madrid vertical, and then a dive inside the Longines fence to the final Volvo oxer before losing a stride to the last put them level with Zorzi, the crowd roaring as they galloped to the finish. But it wasn’t to be a home win, with the clock ticking down to 39.94s, just fractions behind the Italian.

The pressure was on, and it was too much for Niels Bruynseels (BEL) with Gancia de Muze (Malito de Reve x Nimmerdor). They put in a brave try to be fastest of all - almost three seconds up - but had one down, ruling them out of contention. Young Swedish talent Evelina Tovek (SWE) followed suit, taking the inside line to the last fence but the angled distance cost them the front rail of the final Volvo oxer.

Jos Verlooy (BEL) took a different route with his long-striding 9-year-old Igor (Emerald Van't Ruytershof x Nabab De Reve), galloping to the last but finishing clear just a touch slower to finish in 40.22s. Laura Kraut (USA) and the hot chestnut Whitney (Indoctro x Concorde) set off at a lightning fast pace, equal on time with Zorzi to the roll back for the Madrid vertical. But the mare anticipated the turn, tumbling the pole to the ground, and dropping them out of the order.

Temperatures rose as Denis Lynch pulled out all the stops with RMF Echo, another fiery chestnut who took up the challenge, galloping to the first fence in eager anticipation. A brilliant roll back to the vertical, and a cut inside the Longines fence to the final put them up on time, with a perfectly timed stride to take over the lead in 37.37s.

Three remained, with the crowd readying themselves for the final showdown. Pieter Devos and Apart covered the ground effortlessly, slower initially, but picking up pace towards the end of the course to finish in 38.19s and into second place. Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) was deceptively quick, daring his 11-year-old Flotte Deern (Forsyth FRH x Cheenook) to the fences and slipping just behind Devos in 39.68s.

The final rider to go, Cameron Hanley knew he had everything do with Eis Isaura to better his compatriot Lynch’s time. They put in a valient effort but it proved unbeatable, with Hanley stopping the clock in 38.70s, handing the win to his countryman.