Shane Breen takes impressive second in Stockholm

Tpperary native Shane Breen finished second in the 1.60m Longines Global Champions Tour of Stockholm on Sunday.

Riding the 11-year-old mare Haya, Breen narrowly missed out on the top spot. Victory went to World No 1-ranked Henrik von Eckermann with a jump-off time of 46.17. Breen stopped the clock in 46.23.

Completing the podium was the German Marcus Ehning in 46.33.

Irish rider Mark McAuley was one of nine riders to jump clear in the opening round and progress to the jump-off. McAuley settled for sixth place with Django Ste Hermelle in a time of 48.62 seconds.

This is the third five-star podium finish for Breen and Haya. They got 2023 off to a flying start winning and placing second at the CSI5* show in Doha, and went on to finish second in the Global Champions Tour in Mexico in April.

Earlier on Sunday, in the CSIO5* Longines FEI Nations Cup in Sopot, Poland Michael Blake's team of Michael Pender and HHS Calais (ISH), Jack Ryan with BBS McGregor (ISH), Alexander Butler with Ti Amo B Z, and Michael G Duffy and Clitschko 17, finished fifth on a team score of 13.

Victory in the 1.60m Nations Cup went to Belgium on a team score of 8.