Ireland joint third in Aga Khan battle
Germany proved unstoppable in this year's Aga Khan Trophy competition at the Dublin Horse Show today finishing on an enviable score of just nine faults, their second consecutive Aga Khan Trophy win.
However, though not early favourites today, the Irish team of Capt. Shane Carey (River Foyle), Cameron Hanley (SIEC Concept), Conor Swail (Rivaal) and Comdt. Gerry Flynn (Mo Chroi) were in the runner-up slot by half-time, only to be overtaken by the all-female US squad in a tightly-fought second half, to finish equal third with Switzerland on 17 penalties.
Though Ireland were competing as the host nation, the other eight teams were all Samsung Super League members, and so currently the best in the world.
Capt. Shane Carey and 'River Foyle' notched up Ireland's only fault-free round first time out and had a pole down in the second round.
Cameron Hanley accounted for the discard score in each round with 'SIEC Concept', while in their Aga Khan debut Conor Swail and 'Rivaal' rode two classy rounds but had four faults in each.
Comdt. Gerry Flynn and 'Mo Chroi' took just a single time fault first time round the formidable course - made more treacherous as rain started to fall in late afternoon - and had one unlucky fence down in the second round.
Afterwards, Irish Team Manager Robert Splaine said: "There were a couple of mistakes in the first round that we could well have done without, but otherwise I was happy with the performance the lads gave here today."
Earlier, Irish riders struggled to make an impact on the Irish File Six Bar competition, with only Billy Twomey getting though to the final round where he unfortunately suffered an elimination at the
last fence with 'Tinka's Serenade' to finish sixth overall.
But Cameron Hanley, Clem McMahon and Harry Marshall were among those who shared seventh place.
Aga Khan Trophy
1) GERMANY 9 faults
2) USA 13 faults
=3) IRELAND 17 faults
River Foyle; Capt. Shane Carey 0/4
SIEC Concept; Cameron Hanley 9/12
Rivaal; Conor Swail 4/4
Mo Chroi; Comdt. Gerry Flynn 1/4
=3) SWITZERLAND 17 faults
=5) BELGIUM 24 faults
=5) NETHERLANDS 24 faults
7) GT. BRITAIN 36 faults
8) FRANCE 37 faults
9) SWEDEN 51 faults
