USA pip Ireland in thrilling Aga Khan

Team USA members, from left, Karl Cook, Natalie Dean, Robert Ridland, Laura Kraut and Paris Sellon celebrate with the Aga Khan trophy. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Three Californian showjumpers, who have competed against each other since they were children, ended Ireland’s hope of winning the Centenary Aga Khan Nations’ Cup trophy in a cliffhanger battle royal watched by thousands at the RDS.

Team chief Robert Ridland was ecstatic as Karl Cook with Caracole de la Roque, Paris Sellon and her stallion Chad Blue PS, and Natalie Dean on Mr Boombastic put the finishing touches to a tough day of competition — where a vital clear second round from Laura Kraut and Baloutinue overhauled Ireland by one fence.

It was the second time in three years that the American team has scooped the Aga Khan trophy, and winning the centenary competition was the icing on the cake after a high-octane battle for victory between Laura Kraut and Cian O’Connor. Ireland were beaten by just four faults.

Robert Ridland, US chef d’equipe, was beyond delighted: “I am sorry we had to silence the crowd, that was our job, this is the top trophy in the sport of showjumping, and to win it in a centenary year is so special. We had three double clears, and it was truly an Irish- American battle.”

Three of the US team are Californians, except Kraut, who is from the East Coast but lives part-time in Britain with her partner Nick Skelton. “I’ve been trying to get to this level for a while and it’s so great to be here, believe me,” she said.

Kraut will be contesting the Rolex Grand Prix tomorrow to defend her title.

Despite not having to jump in the first round, O’Connor remained calm and serious, as spectators held their breath with his horse Kentucky giving it his all and carefully executing each jump. The bogey fence was 10b on the last home leg, which just rolled off, and with it Ireland’s hopes of a blockbusting win.

“It was a great competition and such tight margins the whole way,” said O’Connor.

“The Coyle brothers were sensational, and Shane jumped a super clear in the first round. I was very happy with how Kentucky jumped, but disappointed that I wasn’t able to bring it home for the lads.”

Jordan Coyle, who has been phenomenal with his fourth international win earlier this morning in the seven- and eight-year-olds, has taken it all in his stride: “We were lucky to start off on the right footing in our childhood days in Eglinton Indoor old aircraft hangar near our home.

“The journey has been fantastic, what a week. Chaccolino is unreal.”

As tomorrow’s million-dollar Rolex Grand Prix beckons, Chaccolino has a hay-day today as he and Jordan get into gear again.

Ireland’s chef d’equipe, Jessica Kuertan, produced a high-class team of riders and horses where brothers Daniel and Jordan Coyle, the Derry Cyclones, finished the day on memorable double clears.

Daniel and his 15.3 rocket, Farrel, the smallest horse of the event, strutted into the arena with ears pricked and drove the audience wild with excitement as he soared over every one of the 12 fences inside the time in 67.81.

Jordan and his talented Chaccolino, who has excelled in North America and loves to jump, gave a cool performance to finish on a second clear for Ireland in 71.22. Both boys started their grassroots jumping in the north-west, where many Nations Cup riders learned their craft at the Eglinton Indoor shows held in an old Spitfire Hangar at Eglinton Derry Airport.

Kanturk native Shane Sweetnam, who heads to the World Championships in Aachen in two weeks’ time with the brilliant James Kann Cruz, instead brought the 10-year-old and equally talented Coriann Van Klapscheut Z to stun the appreciative crowd.

Coriann gave an exhibition of scope and speed to deliver a beautiful clear round which left the US and Ireland on equal zero scores, meaning O’Connor did not have to jump as fourth man.

As the competition progressed, France and the Netherlands looked slightly off form despite a few opening clear rounds, with Great Britain having a bad day.

Belgium, the Netherlands, and France really had a Nations Cup to forget as fences galore fell. Switzerland put up a creditable show for third place, but not good enough to overhaul Ireland on four faults.