Source:  News Release/Colin McClelland

SHOW JUMPING - INJURY AFFECTS IRISH TEAM FINISH AT USA NATIONS' CUP

IRELAND finished fourth in last night’s (Friday) Wellington Nations’ Cup in Florida, with the USA taking first place on just four faults.

Though lying second at the halfway stage, thanks mainly to a textbook clear round from Olympic bronze medallist Cian O’Connor and Splendor, and a single time fault by Richie Moloney with Ahorn van de Zuuthoeve, the Irish were dealt a blow in the second round with the withdrawal by Shane Sweetnam of his horse Siri, due to injury. The combination had collected eight faults first time out.

This left the remaining trio of Moloney, O’Connor and Darragh Kerins with no margin for error, and although O’Connor repeated the magic with another clear from Splendor, Moloney duplicated his first round time fault, while Kerins and the Irish Sport Horse Lisona had a fence down and a time fault. The absence of a discard score therefore left Ireland  on a total of 11 faults, two more than Germany, who claimed third place.

Irish Team Manager Robert Splaine said last night: “The boys all did a good job and Richie’s two single time faults with Ahorn van de Zuuthoeve measured up to a good performance, while Cian O’Connor’s double clear round on Splendor has to be singled out for praise. However, we were put at at a serious disadvantage when Shane’s horse couldn’t return for the second round.

“ The American team who won the Cup could be said to be of Olympic standard, and were tough opponents for everyone.

“Overall, Ireland had a solid performance, and I’d like once again to thank the owners whose contribution made our appearance at Wellington possible.”

The result of Wellington’s four-star competition will not affect Ireland's ranking in the Furusiyya Nations Cup series, with the first Irish participation on European soil due to take place at La Baule, France in May.

Irish breeding also received a boost at the Wellington Nations' Cup when Wang Chung, a stallion bred at Morningside Stud in Co. Clare, assisted the Canadian team to second place. Ridden by Eric Lamaze, Wang Chung had five faults in the first round but produced a terrific clear round second time out to leave the Canadians on a five-fault total, just one more than the Cup's American winners.

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