Ireland equestrian team fall short in Florida

“You don’t win nations cups without jumping clear rounds and we didn’t jump enough of them,” said Michael Blake after he had seen the Irish show jumping team he managed fall short of repeating last year’s success in Ocala, Florida on Sunday evening.

Right from the opening round, when Daniel Coyle and Cita, the first pairing to test the course, came home with eight faults, an Irish retention of the contest looked in doubt, even though three other countries saw their first riders suffer the same damage.

By halfway, only struggling Mexico were carrying more faults than Ireland, but with the USA faring no better, there was hope of some redemption.