Brilliant Ireland qualify for Sunday’s Longines FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona

A fantastic battling performance tonight (Friday) from Michael Blake’s Irish Show Jumping team of Denis Lynch, Michael Duffy, Michael G Duffy and Darragh Kenny saw them finish among the 8 teams from 15 starters that have qualified for Sunday’s 2021 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final in Barcelona.

Darragh Kenny and VDL Cartello delivered a perfect clear as Ireland booked a place in Sunday’s Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final in Barcelona (Photo: Sonya Hennessy)

A thrilling competition saw the result hang in the balance right to the finish, with several of the world’s top jumping nations missing out on a place in Sunday’s final.

Galway’s Michael Duffy with Zilton SL Z picked up four faults at the water and was one of several riders who finished over the time allowed for a five fault score. Mayo’s Michael G Duffy and The Irish Sport Horse Lapuccino 2 also finished with five faults and the pressure was on Ireland’s anchor rider Darragh Kenny to deliver a clear to give Ireland a place in the final. Riding his Olympic mount VDL Cartello, Offaly-born Kenny was cool under pressure, delivering a perfect clear to leave Ireland on a final score of 10 faults, while Denis Lynch was the discard score on this occasion with Cristello.

On Sunday, Ireland will now defend the title against Germany, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, Brazil, Belgium and USA, with all teams in Sunday’s Final starting on a zero score.

Saturday’s Challenge Cup Final for the teams who finished outside the top 8 will be between Switzerland, France, Italy, Britain, Norway, Uzbekistan, Canada and France. There will be added pressure for the six European Division 1 teams of Switzerland, France, Italy, Britain, Norway and France as the lowest placed of the six teams in the Challenge Cup Final will be relegated to the EEF Nations Cup Series for 2022.

The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by Devenish & The Underwriting Exchange
Equiline – Official athlete clothing supplier of Horse Sport Ireland