Ireland third in Belgium

IRELAND’S show jumpers put in a battling performance to finish third in the nations cup at Lummen, Belgium, yesterday, despite elimination for pathfinder Cian O’Connor and Splendor.

The Meath-based rider and the 10-year-old gelding ran into trouble at the treble, but single time faults in each round from Tipperary’s Denis Lynch on Abbervail van het Dingeshof proved crucial in helping the team limit its two-round total to 18.

Corkman Billy Twomey and Je t’Aime Flamenco added four faults to his first-round clear, while 20-year-old David Simpson (Cruise With Me) also played his part with four faults in round one, followed by eight in round two.