Ireland fifth in Dutch Nations Cup as hosts come out on top

Michael Blake’s Irish Show Jumping team of Shane Sweetnam, Bertram Allen, Michael G Duffy and Eoin McMahon, recorded a fifth place finish in Friday’s Longines FEI Nations Cup of The Netherlands in Rotterdam.

The competition was incredibly close at the halfway stage with just one time fault separating the top six teams. Ireland were on one time fault after clear rounds from Bertram Allen with the Aiden McGrory-owned Irish Sport Horse Pacino Amiro, another clear from Eoin McMahon with Chacon 2 – owned by Madeleine Winter-Schulze and a single time fault from Michael G Duffy with the Carl Hanley Sporthorses owned Irish Sport Horse Lapuccino 2 (ISH).

The second round saw Shane Sweetnam with Karlin Van’t Vennehof pick up eight faults and this had to be counted when Duffy and Lapuccino 2 (ISH) finished with 9 faults in their second round. Allen and Pacino Amiro (ISH) looked to be heading for a double clear round before the very last fence fell to leave the on four faults. The highlight of the Irish performance came from Co Clare’s Eoin McMahon who completed a fantastic double clear round when last to go with Chacon 2. That left Ireland on a two round total of 13 faults and in fifth place of the 10 teams that took part.

Victory went to the home team from The Netherlands on 7 faults ahead of Sweden in second on 9. France finish third on 12 faults with Germany also on 12 faults in fourth just ahead of Ireland.

Ireland are among the 10 teams from Europe Division 1 who have already qualified for the 2021 Longines FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona which takes place at the end of September.

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

BREEDING

Pacino Amiro (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Pacino (BWP) out of Carnone Dancing Queen (ISH) by NC Amiro (AES). Breeder: Simon Scott, Co. Donegal. Owner: Aiden McGrory. Rider: Bertram Allen (IRL)

Lapuccino 2 (ISH) – 2008 stallion by SIEC Livelllo (HOLST) out of Cabaret III (BHD). Breeder: Sven Kapp, Co. Galway. Owner: Carl Hanley Sporthorses GmbH. Rider: Michael G Duffy (IRL)