Huge win for Offaly showjumper

Irish Olympian Darragh Kenny and his European Championships mount Eddy Blue beat-off a field that included six of the world's top 10 in the early hours of this morning (Sunday), to win the $500,000 Bainbridge Companies five-star Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, USA.

Clear rounds were not easy to come by over a track set by Irish course designer Alan Wade. Nine horses advanced to the tie-breaking jump-off, with riders representing five nations.

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 Blue 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.

“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,” said Kenny, who won the Longines FEI World Cup of London with Eddy Blue in 2024. “He tries so hard every time he goes in the ring, and I am really proud of him and how he competed tonight.”

Of his jump-off round, where he left a stride out in the first line, Kenny noted, “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,” he continued about his long-term goal to be named to the Irish team for the FEI World Championship in Aachen in August.

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.