Offaly showjumper Darragh Kenny wins $500,000 Wellington five-star Grand Prix in Florida

Offaly showjumper Darragh Kenny put on an impressive display to win the $500,000 Bainbridge Companies five-star Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Florida, USA.

Kenny and his European Championships mount Eddy Blue emerged victorious in a field that included six of the world's top 10 in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Clear rounds were proving elusive over a track set by Irish course designer Alan Wade who has been tapped as the course designer for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Nine horses advanced to the tie-breaking jump-off, with riders representing five nations. Irish Olympian Kenny returned as the penultimate challenger aboard the 14-year-old gelding Eddy Blue.

The Offaly rider used the horse’s massive stride and quickness across the ground to stop the clock at an uncatchable time of 41.77 seconds.

Kenny and Eddy have come close to a five-star Grand Prix win at WEF on a number of occasions but this was the first time they scooped the top prize. 

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Speaking after the victory, Kenny was full of praise for Eddy Blue. "He’s been second and third here [at WEF] and placed in a lot of five-stars, but to finally win one here is really deserving for the horse, he’s an incredible athlete. He tries so hard every time he goes in the ring, and I am really proud of him and how he competed tonight."

Reflecting on his jump-off round, where he left a stride out in the first line, Kenny said: "Eddy Blue is a very careful horse, so I can take a bit of risk with him. The relief of winning tonight was quite big. He’s a championship-type horse because he wants to leave the jumps up every day."

Kenny’s groom, Shauna Murray, was presented with the Double H Farm Grooms Award and a $500 cash prize for her care and preparation of Eddy Blue.

The monumental win in Florida will only enhance Darragh Kenny's chances of achieving his long-term goal of being named on the Irish team for the FEI World Championship in Aachen in August.