Irish team for Canadian Nations Cup announced while Swail, Babington and Sweetnam score stateside wins

Horse Sport Ireland’s acting chef d’Equipe Taylor Vard has announced the Irish Nations Cup team that will compete at Langley, Canada this evening (Friday). The four-star Nations Cup will take place at 8pm Irish time.

The team is:
Daniel Coyle with Tennyson, owned by Susan Grange
James Chawke with Eros H, owned by Vanessa Mannix
Jennifer Crooks with S.F. Uryadi, owned by Olivia Cox-Fill & Stella Farm
Conor Swail with Grafton, owned by Susan and Ariel Grange

Ireland’s Chef d’Equipe for this event will be Taylor Vard as Robert Splaine will be at the five-star Nations Cup in St Gallen, Switzerland which takes place at 1.30pm this afternoon.

Irish riders have got off to a winning start at Langley, with Conor Swail (pictured above) landing Thursday’s $34,600 Artisan Farms Jump-off class with Cita. The 10-year-old mare who is owned by Susan and Ariel Grange, produced a double clear round, over two seconds faster than Canadian favourite Eric Lamaze riding Melody des Hayettes Z. Derry-born Daniel Coyle finished fourth with the 10-year-old stallion Ridley.

Swail’s win was one of three Irish victories across the Atlantic yesterday, with Shane Sweetnam and Kevin Babington also in flying form.

Kevin Babington and Mark Q (Photo: The Book, LLC)
Tipperary-born Babington guided The Irish Sport Horse, Mark Q to victory in the $225,000 Sapphire Grand Prix at the four-star show in Devon Pennsylvania  – in a repeat of their 2011 victory in the Dixon Oval. Babington and the son of O.B.O.S Quality beat American pair Danielle Torano and McLain Ward in a three-horse jump-off.

“Carling King (with whom Babington finished fourth at the 2004 Olympic Games) made me and is the horse of a lifetime,” said Babington “Mark Q is my favourite horse that I’ve ever had. He’s stepped up to the plate so often, and he’s kept me in the sport and kept me jumping big classes, even when he shouldn’t have. He’s not a superstar but he gives it 100 percent. Now, at 14, he’s jumping better than he has ever jumped,” he said.

Meanwhile at Tryon International Equestrian Centre in North Carolina, Cork’s Shane Sweetnam and Cyclon 1083 secured victory in the $35,000 1.50m Suncast Welcome class.

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 (Photo: Flying Horse Photography)

“I thought my horse jumped very well in the first round and he’s 15 so he has enough experience,” Sweetnam stated. “Every Classic that I do with him I hope that I have a chance at winning it. He’s been having a great year and has had plenty of results. I feel like if I get into the jump-off with him I always have a chance.”