DEVON, Pa.--Ireland's Darragh Kenny won for the second night in a row on Wednesday, May 29 at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, this time on Chic Chic in the Main Line Challenge Two Phase for Open Jumpers.

Darrragh Kenny on Chic Chic (Photo by Olivia Airhart)
Kenny finished the second half, the speed phase, in 27.46 to beat Jacqueline Ruyle on Cyramo Z, clean in 28.27, and Danial Bluman of Israel on Hummer, clean in 28.29.

Lillie Keenan on Opium JW van de Moerhoeve TN was fourth in 28.36, with Alex Matz on Junior Kannan fifth in2 8.68 and Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain sixth in 29.46.

"I've had Chic Chic for a long time," said Kenny. "He's 13 now, and I bought him when he was 5. He's incredible. He wins a lot. He's a simple, uncomplicated horse."

"I had already gone on Serendepety, and I'd had the last down, which was disappointing," said Kenny. "I thought if I could finish in the same time I could win the class."

Kenny maintains his Irish citizenship and competes internationally for Ireland, but he lives in Darien, Conn.

"I'm based at Ox Ridge Hunt Club," said Kenny. "Actually, I've taken over Ox Ridge and run my business out of there."

 

IRISH RIDERS have been winning very consistently in this country and internationally, and there's a battle to make the Irish team for the Paris Olympics, but Kenny said his Olympic hopeful, Amsterdam, was hurt in last week's Rome Nations Cup.

"Paris is not really an option now," he said.

Earlier in the day, Scott Stewart on Ever After won the Grand Hunter Championship, and Nick Haness was the Leading Hunter Rider for the second year in a row.

Stewart on Ever After was champion in the Green 3’9” Hunter division with a total of 38 points on their way to winning the Grand Hunter Championship.

Haness on McQueen was Reserve Champion in the High Performance Conformation and on Circa was Reserve Champion in the Green 3’6″ Hunters.

Haness also won top ribbons on Golden Road in the Green Conformations and Green 3’6″ Hunters; with Loma Z in the Green 3’9″ Hunters; with Deja Blue and Estimated Prophet in the High Performance Conformation and High Performance Working Hunters, respectively; and with Jenkins in the High Performance Hunters.

“As I always like to say, Scott is a great human being that also happens to ride well, and I don’t have to say that," said Nancy Ciesluk, who is Stewart's assistant.”