USA’s Laura Kraut wins Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland – Shane Sweetnam best of the Irish

The 2025 Dublin Horse Show has come to a close at the RDS in Ballsbridge where American rider Laura Kraut and the 11-year-old mare Bisquetta emerged as winners of the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland, with what was the only clear round of the competition. A field of 40 of the world’s top horses and riders battled to find the illusive clear round, but it wasn’t until Kraut entered the arena as second last to jump before the audience saw their first combination to emerge fault free.

Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom finished as runners-up with the fastest of 11 four fault scores while Cork’s Shane Sweetnam finished best of the Irish in third place with the Patrick Connolly-bred CSF James Kann Cruz (ISH).

Geoff CURRAN with DHF ALLIANCE

Although the Rolex Grand Prix and Friday’s Aga Khan illuded the Irish, they did dominate the remaining international competitions, scoring no less than eight five-star wins throughout the week. The penultimate competition in the main arena saw Waterford’s Commandant Geoff Curran and the Paul Douglas-bred DHF Alliance (ISH) take victory in the Dublin Horse Show Speed Championship. A blistering clear round in 60.57 seconds saw them push Dutch rider Kevin Jochems and Prada Di Costa (61.04) into second, ahead of Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa in third with Dhalida (61.41).

Bertram Allen with Next Cornet (Photo: Pam Cunningham)

Sunday morning’s action saw Wexford’s Bertram Allen and the 7-year-old gelding Next Coret come out on top in the International 7&8-year-olds competition. Cian O’Connor and Pegasus finished as runners-up ahead of Michael Pender in third with the Brendan McSorley-bred stallion HHS Flonix (ISH).

Niamh McEvoy with BP Othello (ISH) (Photo: Pam Cunningham)

Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy’s winning run at the Dublin Horse Show continued on Sunday morning as she came out on top in the Six-year-old ‘Cruising’ National Championship with the Ennisnag Stud-bred BP Othello (ISH). A second round clear in 34.35 saw them finish over four seconds faster than the only other double clear which came from Vincent Byrne and Belle Mai, while Harry Wood finished third with Juana Moussardiere.

Shane Dalton with Unicum-H (Photo: Pam Cunningham)

The 5 Year Old ‘Flexible’ National Championship saw Shane Dalton and the WSI-approved stallion, Unicum – H owned by Ennisnag Stud, Andrew Hughes & Westbury Stud take the win ahead of Tabitha Kyle and Ottani Z in second and Jack Kent with Castlefield Tycoon in third.

BREEDING
CSF James Kann Cruz (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Kannan out of CSF Telly Cruz by Cruising, bred by Patrick Connolly owned by Gizmo partners LLC. Ridden by Shane Sweetnam


HHS Flonix (ISH). 2018, Stallion by Aganix Du Seigneur (SBS) out of Echo Peach (ISH), by Clover Echo (ISH)[TIH]. Bred by Brendan McSorley, Co. Tyrone.

BP Othello (ISH) 2019 gelding by Ganesh Hero Z (ZANG). Dam: Adelheid (KWPN) by Tygo (KWPN). Breeder: Ennisnag Stud. Owned by Michael & Fiona Roche. Rider Niamh McEvoy.