IRELAND finished fourth of ten teams in the Lisbon Nations’ Cup in Portugal tonight (Friday), climbing three places from their position at the halfway point.

The Irish team finished on a total of 21 faults, which included three clear rounds. 

Ireland’s show jumping manager Robert Splaine said after the event tonight: “Because Ireland is in the super league we use these Divison 2 competitions to develop new combinations, and we had two new horses making their first Nations’ Cup appearances.The Minister for Defence’s Irish-bred Ringwood Glen with Capt. Michael Kelly was the talk of the show, and gave us a brilliant clear in in the second round. 

“Irish Sport Horse WCE Cruco, owned by Martin O’Dea and Carl Hanley Sporthorses, and ridden by Alex Duffy, gave us an excellent clear in the opening round. Thomas Ryan and Simone Aschanden’s Caribo also gave us a second round clear, and this all helped us climb from seventh place at the halfway mark to fourth overall.”

The three-star competition was won by France on a total of eight faults, with Portugal equal second with Brazil on 12 penalties. The British and Moroccan teams, which held joint first with Portugal after the first round of jumping, dropped to equal fifth place at the finish.

Ireland’s team scores were:
Thomas Ryan/Caribo 8/0
Niall Talbot/Nicos de la Cense Elim/18
Alex Duffy/WCE Cruco (ISH) 0/9
Capt. Michael Kelly/Ringwood Glen (ISH) 4/0.