Ireland dominate field of 18 to seal magnificent Vejer Nations Cup win
- 25 October 2024, 17:27
The Underwriting Exchange Irish Show Jumping Team dominated a field of 18 countries to land the three-star Andalucía October Tour Nations Cup Nations Cup in Vejer, Spain this afternoon.
Michael Blake’s team of Mikey Pender, Jason Foley, Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Cian O’Connor led from flagfall and sealed the victory in style, finishing on nine faults and win with plenty in hand.
Belgium were second on 15 faults with the USA completing the podium on 17 faults.
It is yet another Nations Cup win for Blake and his squad of riders, adding to high-profile successes in the likes of Ocala and Aachen, among others, and the Irish Chef D’Equipe was understandably thrilled with the result.
He said: “That was great – I knew we were strong coming in and the course designer had set up a difficult course, with a lot of combinations getting caught out.
“But our lads have seen it all and they really showed their class – the first round was impeccable. We were a little unlucky second time around with just little errors costing us some faults but it was a case of game management at that point and we saw it home with a little up our sleeves.
“It’s another win, adding to what was already a magnificent season and we continue to show just how deep the talent is among our ranks – I’m very pleased.”
Veteran O’Connor added: “It’s fantastic to win this competitive Nation’s Cup today in Vejer.
“I was delighted to be lining out alongside three of the most talented young men on the Irish team. My horse Iron Man jumped outstanding with a super clear today and I’m really excited about him for the future.
“It’s been a really successful year for the team in Nations Cups and I’ve loved being a part of the journey.”
Kildare man Pender and the Hughes Horse Stud-bred HHS Los Angeles (ISH) got the team off to the perfect start, jumping clear within the time allowed – the first combination of the competition to do – as the course proved tricky.
Pender’s zero score was just one of two from the 18 first line combinations and perhaps he had given Foley some words of wisdom as the Carlow native repeated the feat with an impressive faultless round on Jacksonville Eurohill, solidifying the Irish position at the head of affairs.
Brimming with confidence now, a zero score at the break was secured by Seamus Hughes Kennedy and the Ennisnag Stud-bred 2023 Youth European Champion ESI Rocky (ISH) as they also jumped a clear round to maintain Ireland’s perfect tally, with O’Connor and Iron Man afforded the luxury of a pressure-free round.
The pressure might have been off but O’Connor didn’t take the foot off the gas with Iron Man and they also did the business, keeping Ireland perfect for round one with a fourth clear round.
That meant Ireland had eight faults to spare in front of their nearest pursuers France, with Belgium lying in third place at the halfway mark on 11 faults.
After the break, Pender kept Ireland ticking nicely along as first back into the arena, having an unlucky four faults when HHS Los Angeles clipped the top of the wall on an otherwise excellent round.
Foley and Jacksonville Eurohill were desperately unlucky not to make it a double clear, finishing on four faults in round two. The pair jumped superbly throughout and it was only the front bar at the last fence that blemished an otherwise perfect afternoon.
At that point, Ireland were still seemingly in cruise control, sitting with 10 faults to spare as things changed behind the leaders. Germany had now emerged as Ireland’s nearest pursuers on 14 faults and Belgium on 15 in third place with two riders remaining.
Hughes Kennedy and ESI Rocky didn’t touch a pole in round two on their way to just one time fault which all but cemented the win for Ireland and veteran O’Connor wrapped things up on Iron Man to kick off the celebrations.
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Ireland dominate field of 18 to seal magnificent Vejer Nations Cup win