Shane Sweetnam lands elusive Grand Prix victory
Two-time Olympian Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam landed a much-awaited Grand Prix win with Coriann Van Klapscheut Z ahead of 44 of his peers in the $120,000 CSI*, to close out the ESP Pre-Charity show at Wellington International.
“My year has been about seconds. He was second in Devon [PA] and he was second in Aachen [Germany],” Shane said of the nine-year old Belgian Warmblood, citing two of the oldest and highest profile venues on the international show jumping scene. Shane also narrowly missed out on victory recently with the 12-year old Irish Sport Horse, James Kann Kruz – notably runners up in Tryon, NC last month, and Traverse City, MI and the Hamptons, NY earlier in the summer. “It’s actually my first Grand Prix win this year so it’s nice to get it over the line,” said the 44-year old from County Cork, currently ranked 16th in the sport worldwide.
Puerto Rico’s Hector Loyola set the track, which produced 13 contenders in the jump off. Egypt’s Nayel Nassar and S&L Maracana set the bar with the first clear in 46.93 seconds. USA’s Natalie Dean and Con Calma shaved off increments in the hundredths to finish in 46.86 enough for a third place on the podium.
Shane’s time of 44.5 looked impressive, but the Irishman was not about to rest on his laurels knowing the riders left to compete not least Germany’s Rupert Carl Winkelmann and Imodo whose time of 44.65 seconds coming right after Shane’s round, landed them the runners up slot.
“I knew I had to be quick obviously with 13 in the jump off…and [with] the riders coming after me,” Shane said. “So I really got on to the rhythm to the first fence and stuck to the end and then I took a chance at the last and I had a little bit of luck, but he is good at jumping clear rounds, so normally if you give him a chance, he’ll jump it. It was definitely up to him at that stage.”
One rider in particular was on Shane’s mind as he sat in the lead, with five horse and rider combinations left to go. “I was a bit worried with Jad [Dana] going in because he’s a very fast rider and I was thinking ‘oh no’ could this be another second again.” The concern was justified based on Jad’s recent triumphs aboard the 11-year old Belgian Sport Horse, Itchcock des Dames – and while true to form the pair posted the fastest time of 44.4 seconds, they also accumulated four faults to their detriment.
With summer now over, Shane is setting his sights on the upcoming winter season and building on this year’s substantial progress with Coriann Van Klapscheut Z . “He’s had a big year already,” Shane said. “At this age last year he hadn’t even jumped a ranking class. I actually just started him here at these shows and he’s really grown quickly. Like I said he had a very good summer so now I think coming to Florida this year we’ll be hoping for maybe some of the five stars and some of the bigger Grands Prix.”
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