Tenth podium of the season for Ireland in five-star Falsterbo Nations Cup

Cian O’Connor and his excellent nine-year-old Fancy De Kergane were double clear as Ireland finished on the podium in Sweden

The Underwriting Exchange Irish Show Jumping team has continued its remarkable record of podium finishes when third in the fiercely-contested five-star Agria Falsterbo Nations Cup in Sweden.

A fantastic double clear by Cian O’Connor with Fancy de Kergane, the nine-year-old stallion owned by Coolmore Showjumping and Sue Magnier, was the feature of the strong showing by Michael Blake’s team. Incredibly, this is Ireland’s tenth podium finish of the season.

Indeed the Irish were in a very strong position after the opening round of action, where they held the lead on zero faults. The second round did not follow a similar pattern, however, but they still achieved that bronze medal spot, with the home team claiming a very popular triumph.

Coming off a victory last week in Aachen, the Green Jackets were represented by Darragh Kenny and Eddy Blue (owned by Carol Sollak), Conor Swail on Casturano (owned by Conall Murray) and Daniel Coyle riding Incredible (owned by Ariel Grange), with O’Connor and Fancy de Kergane taking up the anchor leg.

Kenny was first into the ring, having secured a five-star speed class triumph last night, and the Offaly athlete was slightly unlucky to have one error early on.

It was an indication of the calibre of the team however, that this proved to be the discard score as Swail, Coyle and O’Connor all registered blemish-free rounds to prompt hopes of a famous double for Team Ireland.

It wasn’t to be, however. Kenny and Eddy Blue posted another steady four-faulter but Swail and Casturano suffered an unfortunate elimination.

That meant that everything counted and surprisingly, Coyle and Incredible crossed the line with eight faults.

O’Connor’s double clear round left the Irish on 12 faults, just one pole down behind same as Germany and Sweden, and level with USA. Ireland snatched third with a better time than USA.

Following a jump-off, it was the home side who clinched the victory as Emma Emanuelsson with Canbella Blue PS finished on four faults and Germany’s Sandra Auffarth on board Quirici had three poles down for 12 faults on board.

Horse Sport Ireland High Performance Show Jumping Director Blake said: “I’m relatively pleased with the result – it was all going very well at the halfway point but obviously Conor’s elimination has put us on the back foot and some little mistakes have cost us in the second round.

“Obviously a podium finish in a Nations Cup is nothing to be sniffed at, and it keeps plenty of momentum going towards Paris. I was also really pleased with Fancy De Kergane’s double clear – he’s only nine and has a very bright future ahead of him at this level.”

The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange

Charles Ancona – Official athlete clothing supplier to Horse Sport Ireland’s Senior Olympic programmes

Bucas – official supplier to Horse Sport Ireland’s High Performance programme

The Irish High Performance Show Jumping Programme is exclusively funded by Sport Ireland