Two weeks ago, they won the Longines BHS King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead – today they went to the top in the CSIO5* Longines International Grand Prix of Ireland in Dublin: Kevin Jochems (NED) and the 11-year-old Captain Cooper (Namelus R x Corland) are certainly going from strength to strength. 

Seven out of the 40 horse-and-rider combinations made it to the jump-off in this Grand Prix, worth 200,000 Euro. With a time of 40.93, Jochems left 0.38 seconds down to runner-up Alexis Deroubaix (FRA) with Timon D’Aure (Mylord Carthago*HN x Drakkar des Hutins), while Lorenzeo De Luca (ITA) took third place with Irenice Horta (Vigo D Arsouilles Stx x Diamant de Semilly) with a time of 41.55 seconds.

Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) had the fastest time in the jump-off with a time of 38.37 aboard Cristalline (Cristallo 1 x Caretello B), but had a rail down to finish fourth. 

Bertram Allen and Molly Malone V (Kannan x Cavalier) were the only Irish combination to make it into the seven horse jump-off. They picked up four faults towards the end of their round, finishing fifth.