Irish Show Jumping team finish second in Longines EEF Nations Cup of Slovakia
- 20 May 2022, 17:56
Michael Blake’s Irish Show Jumping team of Alexander Butler, David Simpson, Thomas Ryan and Trevor Breen have finished as runners-up in today’s Longines EEF Nations Cup at Bratislava in Slovakia, where Germany took the winners prize following a jump-off.
The opening round saw Irish clears from David Simpson with Medoc De Toxandria and Thomas Ryan with Springfield 21, along with a four fault round from Trevor Breen with Germaine W. Ireland were one of five teams on a four fault score at the halfway stage, while the lead was held by Germany, Belgium and Switzerland who were all on a zero score.
Having been the discard score in the opening round, Alexander Butler and Eindhoven G.H recovered brilliantly to post a clear second round. Butler’s clear set the tone for a flawless second round performance from the Irish. David Simpson and Thomas Ryan completed double clear rounds before Trevor Breen also jumped a clear second round to leave Ireland on a two round total of four faults.
As the competition progressed, Germany were to be the only team that could finish on a zero score but when their final rider knocked a fence, a jump-off against Ireland was to be the decider. Alexander Butler and Eindhoven G.H were selected to go in the jump-off for Ireland however they finished with nine faults. German rider Sophie Hinners clinched victory for her team with a four-fault round aboard Million Dollar while Switzerland finished third of the 11 teams that took part.
The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by Devenish and The Underwriting Exchange.
Equiline – Official athlete clothing supplier of Horse Sport Ireland
Longines EEF Series
The Longines EEF Series is a Show Jumping Nations Cup circuit created by the European Equestrian Federation which replaced the FEI Nations Cup Europe Division 2. Ireland is a Europe Division 1 nation but can field teams in selected EEF Series rounds.
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