It's gearing up to be another memorable year for equestrian ace Shane Sweetnam after the Castlemagner native beat stiff opposition to clinch victory at a five-star event in Palm Beach, Florida.
The 40-year-old, who is based in Florida, edged a dramatic jump-off in the Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival in the Palm Beach International Equestrian Centre.
The event, which featured a field of 40 entrants, including five of the world's top-10 ranked riders, saw Sweetnam and his 12-year-old Reinlander gelding Alejandro emerge victorious following the nine-rider jump-off - earning them a cool $132,330 in the process.