IRISH SECOND TO SWISS

EQUESTRIAN: Irish came out fighting at the first Europe Division 1 leg of the Longines FEI Nations Cup showjumping series in Samorin, Slovakia, yesterday, where they finished second behind Switzerland, writes LOUISE PARKES.

With five qualifying opportunities over the eight-round series – which finishes up at the Dublin Horse Show in August, and then leads to the World Final in Barcelona in October – every outing is crucial and they were already lying equal third after yesterday’s first round carrying five faults.

Shane Breen’s 12 faults (Ipswich van de Wolfsakker) was the discard when Mark McAuley (Utchan de Belheme) picked up just a single time fault, Paul O’Shea (Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu) produced a clear and Shane Sweetnam (Chaqui Z) had just four faults.

McAuley’s eight faults were the discard second time out, and when O’Shea posted one of four doubleclears in the competition before single mistakes – from Breen and Sweetnam – then the Irish total of 13 was good enough for runner-up spot.

Team manager Rodrigo Pessoa is using this year’s Nations Cup to formulate his side for the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina, in America in September where reigning European champions Ireland are strong favourites for medals and a qualifying spot for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The next leg of the Nations Cup series takes place at La Baule, France, on May 20.