IRELAND dropped just one place from their pole position in the world show jumping Superleague after finishing seventh in the third leg of the Nations' Cup series at St. Gallen in Switzerland this afternoon (Friday).

With two riders and three horses making their debut at Superleague level, the Irish team completed the two rounds on a total of 35 faults, but the points gained left them second overall in the FEI leaderboard, behind the Netherlands, who won the Nations' Cup today on a total of five faults.

Ireland had won the opening Superleague leg at La Baule in France last month, and were third in Rome last week.

Ireland's best score today came from the experienced Limerick-born Shane Sweetnam and 'Amaretto Darco' who had one jumping fault and one time fault in the first round and picked up a single time fault on their second outing.

Meath's Alexander Butler, making his Superleague debut with the Irish-bred 'Will Wimble' had just four faults on his first round, but trouble at the water jump left him as the discard score in the second round with 23 faults. Jennifer Crooks and 'SF Uryadi', also first-timers at this level, had eight faults in the first round, but just four in the second. Jessica Kurten had two jumping mistakes in the first round on 'API Largo', and did not improve on her second attempt, picking up 13 faults.

Team Ireland Equestrian's show jumping manager Robert Splaine said after the competition: "It was tough today. But we had three new horses and two riders making their debut at this level. It is all in keeping with our policy of building towards the European championships in Madrid later this year and the all important prospect of Olympic qualification.

"We've slipped a place in the overall standings but we have a win and a third under our belt. Now, with a month to plan the next campaign, we are in a satisfactory place at this point."
 

Shane Sweetnam - Ireland's best score