Hearty cheers for Irish Grand Prix win

If you like to go to the Dublin Horse Show - and who wouldn't - then Sunday, the last day of the five-day event, is definitely the best day to go.

There was a refreshing absence of queues yesterday afternoon with tables readily available at Pommery's Seafood and Champagne Bar, and seats aplenty for children at magicians' shows, bouncy castle discos and pony rides.

Then, as the visitors relaxed in an unexpected burst of summer sunshine, Comdt Gerry Flynn won the International Grand Prix for Ireland.

Comdt Flynn, who said later he felt he could have pushed his horse Mo Chroí harder, was one of only two riders to achieve a double clear round out of an international field of 33 riders, in an unbeatable time of 55.93 seconds.

Ben Schroder from the Netherlands managed a clear jump-off round, but finished almost a second behind the 42-year-old Irish rider.

In third place was Jane Richard of Switzerland.

Even small children put down their inflatable ponies to cheer Comdt Flynn as he made his triumphant lap of honour followed by Schroder and Richard.

When Comdt Flynn went around a second time by himself the crowds erupted in a wave of applause.

A thrilled Angela Bruton from Dundrum, who was there with her four-year old son James, declared: "It doesn't get better than this."

Later, in the crowded press room as the first, second and third place winners in the Longines International Grand Prix arrived, Comdt Gerry Flynn found himself mobbed as his fellow competitors took their seats.

What amounted to a private press conference took place, before a female correspondent reminded those present that it was a press conference and there were other winners to interview.

"You must forgive us, we don't get an awful lot of grand prix wins in Ireland," she explained to Schroder and Richard.

In response to prompts, Schroder said his horse was nine years old and hadn't had a lot of experience before yesterday.

He said they had been second four times and he was very happy with the results, commenting that the horse was doing very, very well.

"We don't know Jane Richard at all," commented a voice from the press corps Richard replied that she was 24, from Berne in Switzerland and her horse was 10 years old.

With no more questions, the press conference was called to a close. However, before anyone could get to the door, Comdt Flynn was again surrounded by the press corps, with sudden new questions to ask.

One gets the impression it might continue like this for him for some time.