Podium finish for Agria Irish Eventing team in Aachen Nations Cup

Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis [ISH] (IRL) finished 11th place in Aachen today with the Agria Irish Eventing team finishing third in the four-star SAO Nations Cup

Dag Albert’s team of Ian Cassells, Austin O’Connor, Joseph Murphy and Sam Watson climbed from fifth place overnight after the dressage and show jumping phases to third in the four-star competition, as magnificent cross country performances earned them a spot on the podium.

The excellent result keeps Ireland’s momentum going ahead of the Paris Olympic Games, with the team having won the home Nations Cup at Millstreet earlier this summer.

The Irish team of Cassells with Millridge Atlantis (ISH), Murphy with Calmaro, O’Connor with Isazsa and Watson with Ballyneety Rocketman (ISH) were in touch after the dressage test and jumped well in the show jumping phase to leave the podium in sight with this morning’s cross country to come.

As has come to be expected from Irish teams, sterling cross country performances saw the team climb two places in the standings to third.

Individually, Cassells with Millridge Atlantis (ISH) finished an excellent 11th on a score of 40.30 and Murphy was just one place behind him with Calmaro on a final total of 40.50 in 12th. Watson finished 23rd with Ballyneety Rocketman (ISH) and O’Connor in 34th with Isazsa.

“I’m delighted with the podium finish,” said Horse Sport Ireland High Performance Eventing Director Albert.

“It was all about keeping the momentum going ahead of Paris and we’ve done that nicely here in Aachen.

“All four of the guys were brilliant throughout and they put in excellent cross country runs today to get us there.

“I was quietly confident going into this morning that we could make ground on the cross country and the guys delivered. I’m extremely proud of them.

Ireland now travel to Paris with plenty of confidence following recent results, and hopes will be high for more success.

BREEDING:

MILLRIDGE ATLANTIS (ISH) – 2014 gelding by Dinan Cascaletto (ISH) out of Kereen Sue (ISH) by Warrenstown You 2 (ISH). Breeder: Sean O’Loughlin, Co Kilkenny. Owner: Fiona Leahy and Gerry Leahy. Rider: Ian Cassells (IRL)

BALLYNEETY ROCKETMAN (ISH) – 2014 bay stallion by Diamond Discovery (USA TB) our of Ballyneety Macrocket (ISH) by Errigal Flight (ISH). Bred by James Hickey, Co Limerick. Owner: Hannah & Sam Watson. Rider: Sam Watson (IRL).

The Horse Sport Ireland Senior Eventing Team is kindly sponsored by Agria.

Bucas – official supplier to the Irish High Performance programmes.

Charles Ancona – official clothing supplier to the Irish Senior Olympic High Performance disciplines.

The Irish High Performance Show Jumping Programme is exclusively funded by Sport Ireland.