THE IRISH team finished sixth of ten teams in today's (Friday) French Meydan Nations' Cup at La Baule.

Despite a double clear round from Shane Breen and 'Carmena Z' and a clear first round from Cameron Hanley and 'Southwind VDL', the Irish team were unable to improve on their first round position of equal fifth when Niall Talbot and 'Tequi d'I' were forced to retire due to injury and both Hanley and Darragh Kenny with 'Obelix' collected four faults second time out. The Irish final tally was 16 faults.

Irish team manager Robert Splaine said after the competition: "I always felt a mid-division result would be satisfactory and we came close to that. We weren't far off the pace and Shane Breen with 'Carmena Z' was special, and Darragh Kenny with 'Obelix' improved in the second round. Cameron Hanley did a fine job as anchorman. These three combinations will be seen again at this level. Niall Talbot was unlucky, as 'Tequi d'I' picked up an injury."

The winners were home team France, who produced a remarkable performance to finish on a team score of just four faults, while Poland and the Netherlands failed to make the cut for the second round.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO5* LA BAULE FRANCE MAY 13-16 2010
FEI MEYDAN NATIONS' CUP OF FRANCE

Table A in two Rounds (Art. 264.6, 264) 1m60

Friday May 14, 2010
1) FRANCE 4 penalties

2) USA 8 penalties

=3) GERMANY 12 penalties

=3) GREAT BRITAIN 12 penalties

5) SPAIN 14 penalties

6) IRELAND 16 penalties

Shane Breen; Carmena Z 0.00/0.00

Niall Talbot; Tequi d'I 8.00/Retd

Darragh Kenny; Obelix 8.00/4.00

Cameron Hanley; Southwind VDL 0.00/4.00

7) SWITZERLAND 17 penalties

8) SWEDEN 25 penalties

9) NETHERLANDS 12 penalties (First round only)

10) POLAND 20 penalties (First round only)

The Meydan Super League will feature just eight competitions, concluding at the Dublin Horse Show in August, with the four lowest-scoring teams being dropped from the elite group of the world's top ten show jumping nations.