Seventeen-year-old Mayo show jumper Michael Duffy continued his remarkable winning streak, by taking the top prize in Sunday's two-phase competition at the three star international show at Lisbon in Portugal. The Knockmore rider beat off the challenge of some 60 fellow competitors to take victory with the nine-year-old mare Eminent, which is jointly owned by Sandra Duffy and Jean Gill..
Duffy made his senior Nations’ Cup debut for Ireland at Odense in Denmark a fortnight ago, helping the Irish team to a seventh place finish, and he also recorded two international wins at the Danish venue against top class opposition. Meanwhile Michael’s older brother, Alex Duffy, helped Ireland to finish fourth of 10 teams in the Lisbon Nations' Cup in Portugal on Friday last, climbing three places from their position at the halfway point.
Knockmore born Duffy was riding the Irish sport horse WCE Cruco and produced Ireland's only fault-free first round, before picking up nine faults in the second round in Lisbon which was jumped under floodlights.
The Irish team finished on a total of 21 faults, with victory going to France on a total of eight faults, with Portugal equal second with Brazil just ahead of Ireland.
