IRELAND’S Billy Twomey is 20,000 euro richer tonight (Friday) after his second place finish in the Longines Grand Prix at Lyon, France, aboard Terry Payne’s gelding Diaghilev.
The Cork rider was one of 12 in the jump-off at the World Cup fixture and held second place from early in the final round, outpaced only by Sweden’s Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and the 15 year-old stallion Casall Ask, who stopped the clock just a third of a second faster.
Twomey and Bengtsson, who takes home 25,000 euro for his win, recorded two of just seven double clear rounds in the 47-strong field.
The five-star World Cup class at Lyon takes place on Sunday afternoon.
Twomey is joined at the French venue by fellow Irish rider Cameron Hanley.
