Ireland finish fifth in Aga Khan at Dublin Horse Show and qualify for Nations Cup World Final

The Irish Show Jumping team, sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange and Devenish have finished fifth in today’s Aga Khan Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show, a result which secures qualification for the Nations Cup World Final at the end of September.

Cian O’Connor and Good Luck didn’t touch a pole over two rounds of jumping in the Aga Khan at the RDS (Photo: Sonya Hennessy)

Rodrigo Pessoa’s team were in a share of the lead with USA at the halfway stage on a zero score. Bertram Allen with Molly Malone, Denis Lynch with RMF Echo and Cian O’Connor riding Good Luck all jumped clear, while Mark McAuley was the discard score with just 4 faults aboard Miebello.

Allen and Molly Malone lowered one fence second time out, while Mark McAuley picked up 12 faults with Miebello. Denis Lynch and RMF Echo finished with 13 faults before Cian O’Connor and Good Luck produced an excellent clear jumping round when last to go, adding just a time fault.

This left Ireland on a 17 fault total in fifth overall. The USA lifted the Aga Khan trophy after they finished on a zero score. Second place went to France on 5 faults with Netherlands third on 7 faults. Spain finish fourth on 15 faults ahead of Ireland in fifth followed by Switzerland, Italy and Britain.

Irish team manager Rodrigo Pessoa said:

“We are of course a bit deflated that’s for sure. We took a chance leaving out some of our top horses before the European Championships. We knew this was a tough call – juggling qualification for Barcelona, our home Nations Cup and the European Championships.

Unfortunately we dropped one of the balls here today. We couldn’t repeat our very good first round second time out and the American team were very strong. Our eyes are now on the European Championships which from the start of the season was always our number one goal.”

Today’s Aga Khan saw Ireland take to the arena for the first time since securing a sponsorship deal with leading clothing company Equiline. The Land Rover Puissance will be one of the highlights on Saturday at the Dublin Horse Show followed by the Longines Grand Prix on Sunday.

Aga Khan Nations Cup – Dublin
Irish scores
Bertram Allen / Molly Malone 0/4
Mark McAuley / Miebello (4)/12
Denis Lynch / RMF Echo 0/(13)
Cian O’Connor / Good Luck 0/1
Team total 17 faults