Ireland pipped into second at Spruce Meadows BMO Nations Cup

Mikey Pender and HHS Calais (ISH) on their way to a double clear as Ireland finished second at the BMO Nations Cup in Spruce Meadows

Ireland finished second in the five star BMO Nations Cup in Spruce Meadows overnight – just falling short of retaining the crown they won in 2023 for the first time in 22 years.

In a fiercely competitive competition, Ireland were just edged out by Germany as their anchor rider Jana Wargers delivered a clear round to secure victory on a team total of five faults.

Ireland were runners up on eight faults, with Great Britain in third on a total of 10 faults.

Horse Sport Ireland High Performance Show Jumping Director Michael Blake was understandably proud of his team’s performance, if left rueing what might have been.

“It was in our hands,” Blake said. “But that’s show jumping – it was tough out there and it was really the finest of margins between winning and finishing second.

“The lads jumped great, Mikey with a double clear and some excellent performances from the others to keep us in contention. Ultimately we’ve finished second when we wanted to win but the level of consistency from all our riders this season truly is incredible and I’m very proud of them.”

Daniel Coyle and Incredible were first into the arena for Ireland and were unfortunate to have eight faults, the Dublin Horse Show winner touching the tape at the water before dropping a pole at the first fence of the combination.

Mikey Pender and HHS Calais (ISH) were next in for Blake’s team and they were foot perfect throughout, finishing faultless after a beautiful clear round.

Denis Lynch and Vistogrand were next for the green jackets and the Tipperary man produced a fine round to finish on four faults, before anchor rider Cian O’Connor and Fancy De Kergane completed round one.

Just like they have for much of the 2024 season, O’Connor and Fancy De Kergane didn’t touch a twig as they jumped superbly for a clear round to leave Ireland in second place at the halfway point on four faults, just three behind Germany.

Coyle looked to have everything in hand as round two began but two different poles down to his opening round led to a second round score of eight as things started to become difficult across the board after the break.

Pender and his impressive Irish Sport Horse were under a degree of pressure but that’s when the Kildare man thrives and he delivered a second clear round to leave Ireland well positioned before Lynch’s second round.

Needing a clear from Vistogrand, the Tipperary man was incredible, vocally encouraging the stallion around the Calgary track to deliver a clear when it mattered and leave his team in pole posistion with just O’Connor to come.

Needing a clear round to secure victory before Germany’s anchor rider Wargers with Dorette Old jumped, O’Connor and Fancy De Kergane were literally an inch from doing so, but the tape flew at the water to give them four faults and leave Ireland on a total of eight.

Wargers, under pressure, came through in the clutch with a double clear and Germany, avenging the defeat at Spruce Meadows in 2023, were crowned champions.