The second round was set for a good competition - an 11 fence, 12 effort course which gave riders an opportunity to take turns which allowed for strides to be left out - so we were in for a fast second round where te clever riders, with the well produced horses were going to be truimphant in!

The order of go for the second round was ceded from slowest clear to fastest.

First to go was young Irish man Thomas Ryan and he had the hardest job of all - he had to leave the fences standing so a steady round was going to be ridden - and that is exactly what the young man did - rode a superb clear round, but he took no risks and his time was very beatable when he stopped the clck at 60.71secs - but the 10 following him had to jump clear to do it!

Second out - Philippe Le Jeune and Vigo D Arsouilles were next out but they were definitely not going to win when they lowered the oxer at number 4 (previous round fence 10) to finish with 4 faults in 55.28secs.

Pictured left - Philippe Le Jeune and the 11 year old stallion Vigo D Arsouilles, by Nabab De Reve.

Riding for Switzerland, Beat Mandli wowed the crowd with his round on Paul Buchler's Louis and they left everything exactly where Alan Wade put it and stopped the clock at the great time of 51.40secs and this would put the pressure one those remaining!

Britain were next intot he ring with Tim Stockdale and the handsome grey Corrado mare, 12 year old Fresh Direct Corlato and they were looking good till they lowered the wide white oxer at new fence number 8 to finish with four faults in 52.26secs.

So not all were going clean but the times were getting fast now!

France's 29 year old Timothee Anciaume was next to try his hand at the second round and he was another who liked things left in place to finish clear with a time of 53.28secs, provisional 2nd at this stage

Pictured right - Timothee Anciaume and another of the excellent stallions competing this week in Dublin - Lamm de Fetan is a 10 year old French bred stallion by Fergar Mail.

Britain was back in the ring - this time with Ben Maher and Robin Hood. Owned by Ben and Quainton Stud the 10 year old gelding by Animo just seems to get better and better everytime he goes out and today he jumped a cracking second round which saw them clear and fast - but not quite fast enough to

take the lead from Beat Mandli - Maher - pictured below left - stopped the clock at 52.73secs which was just behind the leading time of 51.40secs.

The man who has had a great Dublin, winning three international classes, Roger Yves-Bost was next into the ring.

Now nobody can deny this man has his own very unusual style over a fence, which might not be the prettiest to watch, but it works for him and his horses and there is great trust between horse and riding when watching this combination. But they were not to be the winners of the Longines Grand Prix today when they lowered a fence for 4 faults.

Their time was fast however, with the clock stopping at 50.28secs in the saddle of another French bred stallion, Ideal De La Loge by Dollar Du Murier - pictured right

Toni Hassman for Germany was next to go and this 13 year old mare by Bollvorm's Libero jumped a text book perfect round which saw every fence standing, without a rattle or a roll and when they came through the finish flags the crowd roared their appreciation of such a wonderfully ridden round in 49.19secs!

Italian, Piergiorgio Bucci was third last to go and he gave it his very best shot, with it looking like he might take the lead until he took a pull coming over the second last fence and when he and Kanebo came through the finish, all fences were standing and the clock stopped at 52.13secs.

Two to go - Pius Schwizer and the mare that had everyone talking all week were next to to - the 8 year old Carlina, owned by Pro Horse International is by Carvallo out of Carlinka S. This mare is young but so incredibly talented - she is a joy to watch over each and every fence.

Pius is currently sitting in 23rd position on the world rankings list having moved up from 36 and no doubt his performance in Dublin this week will see him rise again in the next list.

Pictured below - Pius Schwizer and Carlina - the mare being set for London 2012.

Last to go was the youngest competitor in the field, Abdel Said representing Egypt and he was in the saddle of the 9 year old gelding Avenir but the class was not to be his today when he lowered 9A towards the end of the course to finish with four faults in 50.14secs which was still a great result for this young man, who gets better everytime he competes.

This left the win to the charming, dimpled 33 year old from Germany, Toni Hassman and Lolita giving them the winners spoils of €66,500 plus a superb watch

presented by Longines, sponsors of 5* Grand Prixs around the world.

Pictured right - Abdel Said for Egypt.

At the press conference after the class was done and dusted Hassman complimented the Course Designer, Alan Wade on building super tracks all week and said that he was delighted with the win after "having some luck in the the first round".

This is the "biggest 5* CSIO win for this mare" who has been ridden by Hassman since she was a 7 year old (she is now 13). "Lolita has been out for 2.5 years with health issues but this her 3rd Grand Prix start after 4 starts."

Captain Shane Carey of the Irish Army Equitation School - pictured right - won Leading Irish Rider after a great week in Dublin who must have felt bouyed by his win in the first class of Dublin Horse Show on Wednesday.

With the Equitation under threat from Government cost cutting measures, the Army riders would be under great pressure currently, but the pressure obviously did not affect Carey's performance this week - and there is no question that the largely Irish crowd are fully supportive of their Army riders who are unique in the world.

The Army Equitation School came into existance when Ireland became a Free State in 1926 to promote Ireland the wonderful Irish horses arouned the world - and they have been leading lights in the sport of showjumping since then. It would be a great disappointment to see the school closed as it is such an important part of the history of the Free State, now known as Ireland.

The Leading International rider title went to the entertaining Frenchman, Roger Yves-Bost - pictured right - who clocked up three wins and several top 10 placings in the other classes.

Currently 22nd on the world rankings Roger Yves-Bost is a great favourite with the Frech press for his humour so they are no doubted delighted with his great form in Dublin this week.