Show Jumping - Swail Wins At Mechelen

MALAHIDE-based Conor Swail, who recently celebrated his 32nd birthday, flew the colours for Ireland at today's (Saturday) World Cup show in Mechelen, Belgium, with a win in the major Nekkerhal Cup class.

Riding the Edward Cawley-owned <Windgates King Koal>, Swail came in just under a second faster than Belgium's own show jumping hero, Ludo Philippaerts, on <Verelst Quebec>.

After today's win with <Windgate's King Koal> at Mechelen, rider Conor Swail said: << I am delighted to have him back to full health, and I'm looking forward to a successful season with him in 2004!>>

The win will be particularly poignant for both Swail and Cawley, as King Koal underwent a prolonged recovery period earlier this year after a serious bout of colic. And although there were doubts that the 15 year-old bay would ever compete at top level again, the horse has bounced back onto the international circuit with apparently renewed vigour, placing well at both Milan and Belfast during the last six weeks.

Today's victory at the prestige Belgian indoor venue will confirm the Irish-bred King Koal's notable return to form.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI-W MECHELEN BELGIUM 26-30 DECEMBER 2003

NEKKERHAL CUP
International Competition CSIW - Group A - 1M40
Table A - Two phases
FEI 274.5.3
Saturday, 27 December 2003

1) WINDGATES KING KOAL; Conor SWAIL (IRL) Faults 0.00 Time 27.83
2) VERELST QUEBEC; Ludo PHILIPPAERTS (BEL) Faults 0.00 Time 28.62
3) ELDORADO DE ROCHE; Julien EPAILLARD (FRA) Faults 0.00 Time 29.54

33 starters

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