The Irish Show jumping team have won the Meydan Nations Cup of Sweden this afternoon after a dramatic competition in Falsterbo.
Ireland were in joint second place at the halfway stage thanks to a clear round from Sligo's Darragh Kerins with Night Train , and 4 faults from Tipperary's Denis Lynch and a 5 fault score from Cameron Hanley. This left Ireland on 9 faults after the first round tied with Sweden while the Swiss team held the lead.
But an incredible performance from The Irish team in the second round left the worlds top ten teams in their wake.
Darragh Kerins produced another immaculate clear round with Night Train and so too did Cameron Hanley with SIEC Livello.
Last to go for the Irish was Tipperary's Denis Lynch who delivered a textbook clear round with Lantinus.
Host's Sweden were last to jump and a clear round from Rolf Goran Bengtsson would have forced a jump off but he finished with 5 faults to give a delighted Horse Sport Ireland Team Manager Robert Splaine his first win of this years Meydan Nations Cup series.
Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh said this evening: "I'd like to congratulate the team and Manager Robert Splaine for this outstanding performance at Falsterbo. It is a great boost for the sport, and with the Nations' Cups at Hickstead next week and Dublin two weeks from now, we are entering a very exciting time for show jumping."
IRELAND SCORES AFTER ROUND ONE
Cameron Hanley; SIEC Livello 5 faults
Darragh Kerins; Night Train 0 faults
Capt. David O'Brien; Kiltoom (ISH) 10 faults
Denis Lynch; Lantinus 4 faults
ROUND TWO
Cameron Hanley; SIEC Livello 0 faults
Darragh Kerins; Night Train 0 faults
Capt. David O'Brien; Kiltoom (ISH) 13 faults
Denis Lynch; Lantinus 0 faults
FINAL RESULT
1 IRELAND 9 FAULTS
2 SWEDEN 14 FAULTS
=3 SWITZERLAND 17 FAULTS
=3 FRANCE 17 FAULTS
=5 GREAT BRITAIN 21 FAULTS
=5 THE NETHERLANDS 21 FAULTS
7 UNITED STATES 28 FAULTS
8 GERMANY 29 FAULTS
9 BELGIUM
10 ITALY
