SPLAINE NAMES IRELAND’S NATIONS’ CUP TEAM FOR SPRUCE MEADOWS AS SWAIL SNATCHES WIN

IRELAND will jump as second of the seven teams competing at the Nations’ Cup in Spruce Meadows Canada later tonight (Friday).

Irish show jumping team manager Robert Splaine has announced the jumping order of the Irish team, who will appear as follows:
Shane Sweetnam/Eregast Van’T Kiezelhof
Richie Moloney/Slieveanorra (ISH)
Darragh Kenny/Sans Soucis Z
Conor Swail/Lansdowne.

Meanwhile anchorman Swail last night picked up the Husky Energy Cup and 19,000 euro in prize money when he won the 1m50 jump-off class with Susan and Ariel Grange’s mare Martha Louise.

The Co. Down rider saw off a challenge from top US riders Kent Farrington and McLain Ward, who were amongst the nine who made it through to the jump-off.

Swail’s turn of speed saw Farrington and Voyeur finish eight tenths of a second behind, forced to settle for the runner-up spot, while Ward and Rothchild were almost three seconds off the pace of the Irish rider, to finish in third.

Conor Swail raises his winning cheque with Asim Ghosh, President & CEO of Husky Energy, who sponsored the class.

++LIVE VIDEO COVERAGE OF THE CANADIAN NATIONS’ CUP AVAILABLE ON www.feitv.org at 01:25am Saturday morning