Floodlight problems for Irish horses in Lisbon nations cup

Ireland’s show jumpers finished sixth in the second division nations cup in Lisbon, Portugal, with manager Robert Splaine citing the inexperience of some horses in dealing with the floodlit second round.

Trevor Breen’s Oldtown KC and Anthony Condon’s Balzac were making their nations cup debut, while Michael G Duffy on Felix XXVIII, and Michael Duffy with Cortina 200 were appearing in their second nations cup outing for Ireland.

Tipperary’s Breen opened with a zero, but under lights had nine, while Waterford’s Condon started with four faults and added five next time out. Galway’s Michael Duffy also had a clear with his first attempt, but accumulated nine in the second round. Mayo’s Michael G Duffy was the only disparity, opening with 16, but improving under lights with five faults.

The quartet finished on 23 faults, leaving them sixth of the nine teams in a competition won by Spain.

Condon followed up with victory in a 1.50mtr jump-off on the nine-year-old stallion Aristio, narrowly beating Kilkenny’s Marion Hughes on the bay gelding Can Ya Makan.

At the five-star show in Aachen, Germany, Bertram Allen and Denis Lynch finished runner-up in two classes.

Tipperary’s Lynch and Thomas Straumann’s bay stallion All Star 5 were just over a second off the pace set by Germany’s David Will on Mic Mac du Tillard in a winning round contest, while Allen finished second in the Youngster Cup for horses aged seven and eight with the stallion Cheese WZ.