Ireland finished sixth in the third leg of the Longines League of Nations this afternoon in Rotterdam.
Jessica Kuerten’s team of Michael Duffy, Niamh McEvoy, Jordan Coyle and Shane Sweetnam totalled 24 faults after two rounds of competitive jumping, with Great Britain taking top honours following a three-way jump-off. The United States of America were runners-up, while Switzerland filled the podium in third.
The Irish were well positioned at the halfway stage of proceedings on just four faults after clear rounds for Coyle and Sweetnam, but the team couldn’t replicate those efforts in round two and slipped from third position to sixth.
The result means Ireland remain in third place in the standings, all but assured of a place in the Barcelona final with one leg remaining at Gassin – St Tropez to come in September.
Horse Sport Ireland High Performance Jumping Manager, Kuerten, said: “Everyone tried their best in Rotterdam today, and we had great performances from Jordan and Shane.”
Duffy was first in for the Green Jackets with Mr Qerly Z, who produced a solid round of jumping all round, with just a pole at the first of the double dropping as Ireland began with four faults.
22-year-old Niamh McEvoy, on just her second Longines League of Nations appearance, was next in withe BP Rocket Man (ISH) who unfortnately dropped a couple of poles for eight faults.
Coyle steadied the ship for Ireland just when it was needed, keeping the team on a score of four faults through three combinations after a magnificent clear with Chaccolino with Sweetnam to come as anchor.
World number six Sweetnam was unflappable with Coriaan van Klapscheut Z, the up-and-coming 10-year-old gelding, as they delivered a second clear round for Ireland to go into the break just one pole off joint leaders The Netherlands and Switzerland.
Perhaps surprisingly, of the ten nations who lined up, it was the top two in the standings coming into Rotterdam, Germany and France, who were eliminated, opening the door for Ireland two climb into the top two spots from third.
With the format of the Longines League of Nations meaning just three combinations jump in round two it was Duffy, Coyle and Sweetnam coming back for a second time, with all scores counting.
That format proved costly almost instantly as Duffy had an unfortunate 12 faults with Mr Qerly Z as Ireland slipped to sixth position before Coyle produced another solid effort for four faults with Chaccolino.
Sweetnam and Coriaan van Klapscheut Z rounded out the the afternoon with just one pole falling for four faults as Ireland finished on 24.