Ireland finish third in St. Gallen Nations’ Cup

LEADING at the halfway stage of the St. Gallen Nations’ Cup in Switzerland today (Friday) with the home team just one fence behind, Ireland dropped to third overall as the unpredictability of team competition saw Belgium overtake both countries in the second round.

Star of the Irish show was Furusiyya Nations’ Cup newcomer Greg Broderick, making his top level debut this season with the Irish Sport Horse MHS Going Global. The 29 year-old Tipperary rider clocked up a classic double clear, one of only four recorded by the 32 horse and rider combinations taking part today.

Shane Breen and Golden Hawk opened for Ireland with a zero score, but dropped two fences in the second round, while Olympic medallist Cian O’Connor on his new mount Good Luck had a four fault first round, and picked up a time fault to register five faults in the second round.

Nineteen year-old Bertram Allen produced an effortless first round clear as anchorman with the 17 year-old Romanov, but came home with eight faults in the second round to leave Ireland on a total of 13 faults, one point behind runners-up Switzerland, and one fence off the score of the Belgian winners, whose spectacular second round produced four clear jumping scores and just one time fault to finish on nine penalty points overall.

Show jumping team manager Robert Splaine said after the competition: “I’m pleased with our performance in the first round. To complete on a zero score at this level is an exceptional achievement. We made some mistakes in the second round which did cost us, but we still go onto the podium at the finish.

“It was a tough course in all respects, as was shown by the tightness of the scores at the top half of the table.

“We had three combinations here that are relatively inexperienced at this top level, and I believe have yet to fully establish themselves at this level, and this gives us a lot of encouragement with the overall championship plan in mind.

“Once again, we’re indebted to the owners, who made our performance here possible.”

ST GALLEN NATIONS’ CUP
Irish scores:
Shane Breen/Golden Hawk 0/8
Greg Broderick/Mhs Going Global (ISH) 0/0
Cian O’Connor/Good Luck 4/5
Bertram Allen/Romanov 0/8

Greg Broderick – double clear round