Runner-up finish for Ireland in Barcelona Longines Challenge Cup

The Irish Show Jumping team, sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange and Devenish, have taken runner-up spot in tonight’s €300,000 Longines FEI Challenge Cup final in Barcelona, Spain.

Cork-born Shane Sweetnam finished with one fence down and a time fault when first to go for Ireland with the Spy Coast Farm-owned Chaqui Z. Wexford’s Bertram Allen and the grey mare Molly Malone, owned by Ballywalter Farms, lowered a single fence to finish with 4 faults. Tipperary’s Shane Breen and the Team Z7-owned stallion Laith then produced a foot-perfect clear round – one of just two clear rounds on the night. Denis Lynch and the Thomas Straumann-owned All Star were the discard score when finishing with 9 faults as last to go, however Ireland were already assured of second place before Lynch entered the arena.

Ireland finished on a total of nine faults, with victory going to The United Arab Emirates who didn’t touch a pole finishing with just 3 time faults, while Irish team manager Rodrigo Pessoa’s native Brazil finished third on 11 faults. The home team from Spain finished fourth ahead of Britain in fifth, New Zealand in sixth and Italy in seventh.

The Irish senior Show Jumping team is sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange and Devenish.
Equiline – Official athlete clothing supplier of Team Ireland Equestrian