IRELAND TAKE TIMELY WIN AHEAD OF AGA KHAN CUP

IRELAND won out in a two-way jump-off against old rivals Great Britain in the Longines FEI Nations Cup at Hickstead in West Sussex yesterday, writes LOUISE PARKES.

Wild winds and the first heavy rain to hit the Sussex area for more than 50 days ensured conditions were seriously challenging. But Rodrigo Pessoa’s side of Trevor Breen (39), Richie Moloney (36), Michael Duffy (23) and Anthony Condon (31) battled bravely, and it was Waterford native Condon who clinched it in a third-round showdown with Britain’s Holly Smith.

Just seven of the 10 competing nations will qualify from Europe Division One for the €2m Longines final in Barcelona in October.

Lying eighth on the leaderboard as yesterday’s penultimate qualifier began, Ireland needed a good result. Sharing the lead at the halfway stage on eight faults, the two sides were still locked together on 16 after two rounds, so it would take a jump-off to separate them.

The British showed real guts when former World No 1, Scott Brash, was eliminated at the water fence in both rounds with Hello Shelby. Smith was first out against the clock in the decider, posting a great clear in 43.39 seconds with Heart’s Destiny. But Condon wasn’t intimidated as he set off with SFS Aristio, who galloped through the timers more than two seconds quicker.

The win catapults Ireland up to third on the series leaderboard ahead of the final Division One leg, the Aga Khan Cup in Dublin next week.