IRELAND FINISHES FOURTH AT MARATHON NATIONS’ CUP BATTLE IN
FLORIDA

IRELAND’S show jumping team finished equal fourth with Brazil at
Wellington in Florida in their first Nations’ Cup of 2014 last night (Friday),
after a marathon competition that saw 12 teams taking part.

A clear round
from Cian O’Connor and Quidam’s Cherie helped the Irish make the cut for the
second round, in which eight nations took part, and a further clear from Richie
Moloney on Carrabis Z in the second round ensured that the Irish team stayed
within the top rank.

While Ireland was not competing for points in the
American and Caribbean section of the Furusiyya FEI league, they were
nevertheless battling with teams from Canada, Mexico, and the host nation USA,
for whom points were essential.

Canada ended up winning the competition,
with the USA in third place and Mexico in sixth.

Irish team manager
Robert Splaine said today: “The Canadians and the USA are always particularly
strong at this show, as it is part of the qualification series for them in the
Furusiyya league.

“However, our performance was encouraging and we had
some new partnerships making their debut in a Nations’ Cup. Once again, we owe a
huge debt to the owners. We need top horses and without owners we cannot fulfil
our ambitions, and it was pleasing to see a new one being involved last night.

“It is important also not to underestimate the huge challenges ahead,
and of course we must build on last night’s performance.”

Ireland
finished on a 17 fault total over the two rounds, and the Irish team scores were
as follows:

Shane Sweetnam/Eregast Van’T Kiezelhof (Owner: Spy Coast Farm
LLC ) 4/4
Richie Moloney/Carrabis Z (Owner: Equinimity LLC) 8/0
Paul
O’Shea/Lilli (Owner: Georgina Bloomberg) 5/4
Cian O’Connor/Quidam’s Cherie
(Owner: Adena Springs Stables) 0/8