Ireland second in Portuguese Nations' Cup

Ireland today increased their lead in the FEI Nations' Cup rankings with a second place in Lisbon, Portugal. Today's Nations' Cup result added eight points to Ireland's overall tally, but under the 'best of seven competitions' rule, seven points from a previous competition had to be dropped, giving a net gain of one point.

With only three 2007 Nations' Cup league competitions to go (Zagreb, Athens, Buenos Aires) Ireland's show jumpers must produce a top four place in Croatia next week to copper-fasten their dominance of the league.

Today's four-star competition at Lisbon featured nine nations, with Spain the winners on 12 faults, Ireland second on 16 faults, and France third on 24 faults.

Comdt. Gerry Flynn on 'Mo Chroí' and Shane Breen on 'World Cruise' delivered Ireland's best scores with just four faults apiece over two rounds, while Marion Hughes (Heritage Transmission) accumulated eight. Marie Burke and 'Chippison' had two fences down in the first round, and did not jump in the second.

Afterwards, Ireland's Team manager Robert Splaine said: "We marginally improved our position here, and although we always like to win, I'm not unhappy with today's second place against Spain's strong European Championship team. It was a demanding course, and we made a

few avoidable mistakes in the first round, but overall I'm very pleased with our performance."

If Ireland remain at the top of the FEI Nations' Cup League at the end of the season, they will replace France in the elite eight-nation Samsung Super League for 2008.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO4* LISBON PORTUGAL 20-23 SEPTEMBER 2007

NATIONS CUP OF PORTUGAL

Two Rounds 1m60

Sunday, September 23, 2007

1) SPAIN 12 faults

2) IRELAND 16 faults

World Cruise; Shane Breen 4/0

Heritage Transmission; Marion Hughes 8/0

Chippison; Marie Burke 8/-

Mo Chroi; Comdt. Gerry Flynn 0/4

3) FRANCE 24 faults