Splaine impressed as Ireland finish joint second in Nations Cup in Florida
Ireland were tied for the lead with Britain at the half-way stage on four faults, with Canada holding third just two faults behind, despite a broken nose band causing a refusal for the stallion Hickstead, the mount of Olympic gold medallist and world number one Eric Lamaze.
However, a double clear from veteran Ian Millar on the appropriately-named In Style and a second round clear for Lamaze gave the Canadians their fourth victory in seven years of the event on 15 faults.
Ireland manager Robert Splaine was impressed by his charges, who finished on 16 faults in the eight-country contest.
“We did not go into this competition as favourites and, indeed, I was here mainly to assess the performance of our US-based riders for later in the year, but the team produced a truly excellent result against some top opposition.”
Ireland’s first round saw former European team gold medallist Kevin Babington and Cork’s Shane Sweetnam produce clears on Souvenir and Amaretto d’Arco, respectively, while Sligo native Darragh Kerins and Night Train four-faulted. Richie Moloney and Triviant provided the discard score when returning with 12 faults and sat out the second round, featuring teams of three, in which each of Ireland’s riders picked up four faults. .
In Cavan, John Floody took the second leg of the HSI Guidam Spring Tour. The Newgrange rider was one of three to make it into the jump-off and, with Tony Noble’s mare Slightly Bonkers, he produced the fastest of only two double clears.
“The mare’s been a tricky project. We’re moving her into 1m40 classes soon, but it’s been hard work, though I have to say the hard work paid off at Cavan today.”
“We have high hopes for her, so you might be seeing more of us soon,” said Floody, who was sixth in the opening leg at Ravensdale, Co Louth, a week earlier.
The only other double clear came from Anne Marie Fitzpatrick, who finished more than five seconds adrift on Finder’s Keepers, while Gerard Campbell and Catch Me If You Can posted eight faults to finish third.
In Bremen, Germany, Swiss-based Thomas Ryan, riding the 12-year-old Urleven van de Helle, added a second round clear to his first round four faults for a fifth-place finish in yesterday’s grand prix at the four-star show.
In Cadiz, Spain, Cian O’Connor was the fastest first round four-faulter, placing sixth in the 1.50m grand prix with Stephen O’Connor’s Complete.
The Sunshine Tour also saw Frank Curran and Pepp finish with one of only two double clears to place second in the Small Tour Grand Prix, with Thomas O’Brien fourth on Voila.
On Friday, Cheshire-based Corkman Billy Twomey rode Goldex to fifth place in a grand prix.
A cross-country clear saw Bandon-based eventer Michael Ryan and Annestown Emperor move up 11 places to sixth in the two-star Barroca d’Alva, Portugal. However, four faults in yesterday’s show jumping dropped them one place, the pairing ending their competition on 57 penalties.
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