The Irish show jumping team won the Longines FEI Nations Cup in Hickstead on Sunday. It came down to a thrilling jump-off round in the heavy rain at the English show ground. Ireland and Britain remained level through-out the competition, neither nation managed to gain the winning advantage. The jump-off was the deciding round. Britain’s Holly Smith was first into the arena and set the time to beat of 43.39. Anthony Condon was Rodrigo Pessoa’s choice and he certainly delivered, finishing just over two seconds faster than Smith.
The Irish show jumping team won the Longines FEI Nations Cup in Hickstead on Sunday. It came down to a thrilling jump-off round in the heavy rain at the English show ground. Ireland and Britain remained level through-out the competition, neither nation managed to gain the winning advantage.
The jump-off was the deciding round. Britain’s Holly Smith was first into the arena and set the time to beat of 43.39. Anthony Condon was Rodrigo Pessoa’s choice and he certainly delivered, finishing just over two seconds faster than Smith.
The Irish team consisted of Trevor Breen riding Bombay, Richie Moloney riding Freestyle De Muze, Michael Duffy riding EFS Top Contender and Anthony Condon riding Aristio.
Richie Moloney jumped clear in the first round, while the other three riders each had a fence down. In the second round it was Galway’s Michael Duffy who delivered the only clear round in the second round.
Speaking about his decision to use Condon for the jump-off, Pessoa said: “They had jumped well in first round, he is a fast horse with a fast rider and had just won a Grand Prix in Chantilly recently. We had a plan with Anthony what to do if he had a fence down in the last round. We thought they were the best pair for the job and they proved us right. The conditions were not easy but the ground held up very well.”
“We were unlucky with some of the fences we had down with just a light rub and we got pushed against the wall midway through the second round when we got a crucial round from Michael Duffy. All the riders were good today.”
The win leaves Ireland in third place in the league table and guarantees them a place in the 2018 Nations Cup World Final in Barcelona. All eyes will now be focused on the Dublin Horse Show and the Aga Khan.
WEG team riders dominate at
Camphire Cathal Daniels added to his international victories by winning the Sema Lease CCI3* with Sammy Davis Junior at Camphire International. Daniels was never far from the leader. Dressage leader China’s Alex Hua Tian was eliminated on the cross country, leaving New Zealand’s Tim Price in first and Daniels in second going into the final phase.
Ascona A and Price lowered two fences, dropping them into third, leaving Daniels in poll position. Daniels has been selected to ride Rioghan Rua at the World Equestrian Games in September. Price also filled second place with Kincooley Cruising.
In the Cahervillahow CIC3* class Irish riders continued to dominate. WEG combinations Padraig McCarthy and Mr Chunky, and Sarah Ennis and Horseware Stellor Rebound showed their class. McCarthy only added 0.4 cross country time penalties to his leading dressage score to win.
A double clear from Ennis helped her move up from third to second, finishing 0.2 behind the winner. Irish rider Ciaran Glynn filled third place. Aidan Keogh added to the Irish success coming home in fifth and sixth.
Other winners
2018 Badminton Horse Trials winner Jonelle Price won the Castlearce CCI2* with Hester. Ireland’s Emily Corbett finished third riding Leapfrog. British riders filled the top four places with double clears in the Eventing Ireland CCI1* class. Amelia King and Regal Mix won the class.
Cathal Daniels posted another good result in the Gain Equine Nutrition CIC2* with LEB Lias Jewel finishing second behind Australia’s Kevin McNab.
Sarah Ennis finished second in both the Waterford County Council CIC1* and the HSI CICYH1* six-year-old. Michael Ryan won the CIC1* and Jodie Amos won the six-year-old division.
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