Aachen, 06. July 2008

Cian O'Connor wins the YAGEO Prize
Fastest round by the Irish rider on Splendour

For a lot of riders who hadn't qualified for the ROLEX Grand Prix it was the last chance on the tenth day of the show to record their names in the winners' list at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen 2008. Cian O'Connor with the nine-year-old Dutch-bred gelding Splendour succeeded in doing so this morning and picked up 5,000 Euros of prize-money for his victory in the YAGEO Prize, a penalty and time jumping competition.

With a time of 60.61 seconds the 28-year-old Irish rider outdistanced the "veteran" John Whitaker (Great Britain/61,21) on the 13-year-old Irish-bred horse Casino and team Olympic gold medallist Marcus Ehning (Borken/62.61) on the nine-year-old Bavarian-bred mare Sabrina, who as well as 19 further fellow competitors had jumped clear early on Sunday morning. Whereas O'Connor will have to watch the Rolex Grand Prix from the grandstand this afternoon, Whitaker and Ehning will be saddling their horses again to compete.