Athlone rider impresses at US showjumping events

The showjumping expertise of Athlone rider Francis Derwin has been further enhanced at recent three star level competitions which took place in the United States.

Derwin picked off a number of rosettes as the first of ten weeks of international competition got under way in Ocala, Florida.

Derwin finished runner-up with the Irish Sport horse Flexi K in the three-star Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Centre.

He then crowned a very prosperous week with only the second double clear in the 1.50m Grand Prix, stopping the clock in 37.04, just short of the 36.93 standard set by eventual winner American Carolee McCutcheon.

Earlier in the week, Derwin and Flexi K had posted two fourth-place finishes, so it was a really consistent week for the duo.