Emotional day for Di as GB win Aga Khan Trophy
GREAT Britain won their 27th Aga Khan Nations Cup in Dublin yesterday, finishing on one penalty after their team of young guns — managed by Di Lampard who herself won the Aga Khan Trophy in 1996 — never touched a fence over two rounds.
There was a tear in chef d’Equipe Di’s eye as GB clinched the trophy to win €64,000 and book GB’s ticket to the €2million Barcelona Nations Cup finals in October.
Italy, who finished second, and Ireland in third are also qualified for the winter Nations Cup finals in Spain.
Italy finished second on 12 penalties in the Aga Khan for €40,000 while Ireland took third with 16 penalties despite two superb clear rounds from Paul O’Shea on Skara Glen Macchu Picchu.
Ben Maher with Concona, Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson, Emily Moffitt on Winning Good and Holly Smith with Heart’s Destiny now look strong enough to win a gold at the forthcoming Europeans in Rotterdam.
Brash and Moffitt both jumped double clear with Smith on an opening clear and the team finishing on one penalty.
Lampard said: “This has been a memorable day for me, I was on the winning team here in 1996 with Nick Skelton, John Whitaker and Robert Smith and it was a day like today, one I will never forget.”
Pat Hanley, RDS Show Director, added: “There has been a great relationship between Ireland and GB in showjumping over the years, the going was super despite the overnight rain.”
Moffitt (21), in her first ever five star Nations Cup, said: “My horse is such a fighter — when we did the double clear rounds I was so happy.”
As for Ireland, Cian O’Connor and PSG Final had four faults and five, Paul O’Shea produced double clear, while Shane Sweetnam and Chaqui and Darragh Kenny with Important De Muze both tipped fences in each round.
Course builder Alan Wade added: “The best team won on the day.”
Earlier Irish internationals Denis Lynch and Dermott Lennon battled it out for the second round of the Seven-Year-Olds with Lynch winning on his German stallion Cornets Iberio.
Only five riders made the jump-off from 19 starters with Lennon taking the lead on a clear in 37.15 only to be overhauled by Lynch in 34.69.
Teen Jack Ryan, of Wexford, finished third on BBs McGregor, clear in 37.21, while Donacloney’s Ross Mulholland was sixth on Coolmore Stud’s Ikarus.
The International Eight-YearOlds was won by Mexico’s Jose Antonio Chedraui. Ireland’s Steven Smith on Gradje O was runner-up with Italian ace Lorenzo de Luca in third.
Former RDS champion rider Bertram Allen finished fourth ahead of Michael Pender. Fermanagh’s James Hogg was seventh on Intuitive.
Kayleigh Soden claimed the 1.35m-1.40m Young Riders National Championship, one of three clears to make the jumpoff. Her winning round of 40.01 couldn’t be bettered by Harriet Cooper with Annaghmore Small Hero, clear in 40.47, and third placed Max Wachman on Atlantic Du Seigneur.
Derry’s Olivia Roulston, ever consistent, finished sixth on Erico, owned by Keonan Stables.
Ennis rider Coen Williams claimed the National 138cm Pony Championship on Sligo Lux To Queeney, beating Sarah Fitzgerald and Dooneens Captain Classic and Alexandra Hourigan with Aille Stewy.
Mayo’s Ellie Rose Cassidy and Claggan Gypsy Delight were National 148cms RDS pony champions. Michael Pender steered MHS Cardenta to victory in the six-year-olds, also taking runner-up on HHS Vancouver.
Andrea McKee, Comber, won the ladies side saddle championship and overall ladies title to take home two RDS silver trophies on Dancing Queen.
Ballynahinch rider Rachel Moore excelled to win the lightweight hunters with Drumlane Major for David Sloan, while Jayne McConnell’s The Master’s Choice from Ballyclare also had success in lightweights.
Desmond Gibson, Dromara, won two-year-olds, taking runner-up with Action Man in the three-year-olds. There was also a third place for eventer David Kirkpatrick, Comber, with Redwood Tzar owned by himself and wife Charlotte.
Fourth place in the filly loose jumping went to Fermanagh rider Catherine Thornton and David Campbell’s Coco Chanel, bred by Stewartstown farmer Norman Hammond.
Today is Puissance High Jump day at Dublin Show and will feature the Dublin Society Stakes at noon; the Longines Dublin Stakes at 1.50pm; with the 128cm and senior rider International Pairs at 4.30pm; Racehorse to Riding Horse Parade and the Land Rover Puissance at 6.10pm. Amateurs are in the main arena at 7.50pm.