THE Irish show jumping team had an evening to forget in Rotterdam last Friday, however an early showing of top results meant they still topped the inaugural Longines League of Nations and sailed through to the final in Barcelona this October.

Having won the second leg in Ocala and finished runner-up in Abu Dhabi’s opening leg, Ireland had already secured qualification for the decider in Spain and, despite having a strong team in Rotterdam, a couple of mistakes meant they faded down the order to finish eighth. The new format, whereby just three of the four riders return for the second round, leaves no margin for error.

A stunning performance from France to finish on a zero score across two rounds of jumping saw them emerge victorious. Copybook clears from Simon Delestre (I Amelusina R 51), Kevin Staut (Scuderia 1918 Viking d’La Rousserie), Julien Epaillard (Donatello d’Auge) and Olivier Perreau (GL Events Dorai d’Aiguilly) saw them stand alone on a zero scoreline at the end of a thrilling day of sport that had their own supporters, and the electric Dutch crowd, on the edges of their seats.

Epic contest

In an epic contest, Henrik Ankarcrona’s all-powerful Swedish side had to settle for second this time out, when fractionally faster than the third-placed British, who also finished on a four-fault tally. It was relief for France, who had been languishing at the bottom of the table, but Britain and Belgium miss out on a spot in the final.

Shane Sweetnam was first out for Ireland with the inexperienced 10-year-old mare RR Combella, owned by the rider and Voquest LLC. A foot in the water and a fence down meant they finished with eight faults.

It meant there was a touch of pressure on Louth native Mark McAuley and his brilliant Irish Sport Horse GRS Lady Amaro (Amaretto D’Arco x Over the River), but the combination put in an exceptional performance; McAuley even losing his stirrups late into his round before guiding his mount home without touching a pole to put Ireland back in the mix.

With the competition really heating up, Derry’s Daniel Coyle and his Olympic Games-bound Legacy were next into the arena for Ireland. The 14-year-old mare owned by Ariel Grange proved exactly why they will be on the plane to Paris, jumping a flawless clear round.

Last to go for cap number 146 of his career was Cian O’Connor with Nicole Walker’s 10-year-old mare Eve D’Ouilly. The pair were clear until the final fence before picking up four faults. Remarkably, only one fence separated first from last of the ten teams but a quick time got Ireland through to the second round in seventh. Two giants in show jumping – Germany and USA – missed out on the second round when 25 of the 40 starters jumped clear over the track set by Dutch course designer Quintin Maertens.

Michael Blake chose McAuley, Coyle and O’Connor to return for the second round. McAuley picked up eight faults, before Coyle was unlucky to have the first of the double just two from home, and Eve D’Ouilly knocked two parts of the triple combination before O’Connor decided to retire.

“It wasn’t our day today, but I’m so proud of all the riders, who have represented Ireland across the series. We were brilliant in Abu Dhabi, and Ocala was unforgettable, and it is great to finish this phase top of the series standings,” said chef d’equipe and High Performance Director, Michael Blake.

Second qualification

Meanwhile, the depth of Irish show jumping was illustrated as another team secured qualification for the final of the Longines EEF Series Nations Cup in Warsaw in September, after a stirring second round fightback earned a podium position in the semi-final at Deauville on Friday.

It was a real team effort, when each of the four team riders recorded a clear. Three of those arrived in the second round to secure third, as Tyrone’s Jenny Rankin recovered from her opening eight-fault outing on Blackwood Group’s Ibiza to get the comeback under way.

Tipperary man Tom Wachman, riding Coolmore Showjumping’s Berlux Z, and Galwegian Jessica Burke, riding the Liam Nicholas-owned and bred Irish Sport Horse Express Trend, followed suit to achieve the primary target of qualification to the final.

The Nations Cup was won in convincing fashion by Spain with zero faults. Great Britain finished second on four faults, with the Ireland just behind on five.

With Michael Blake in Rotterdam, Taylor Vard was on chef d’equipe duties, and his half-time team talk certainly worked, as his crew turned around a perilous position at the end of the opening stanza. Ireland were fifth at that juncture, with only five nations progressing to the decider in Poland.

Max Wachman had posted a vital clear round on the Irish Sport Horse Kilkenny (Cardento x Guidam), who is owned by Susan Magnier and was bred by Ita Brennan, while Tom and Berlux Z made no jumping errors but were marginally over the time allowed to register one fault.

“I’m delighted with the team in Deauville and it’s a great achievement to reach the Longines EEF Series final,” said Blake from Rotterdam. “They showed a lot to deliver three rounds when they needed them. I want to thank Taylor Vard too for looking after them in my absence and helping to secure an excellent result.”