Irish finish bottom in Nations' Cup
Friday, 15 May 2009 17:55The Irish showjumping team failed to make it through to the second round of 2009's first Meydan Nations' Cup at La Baule, France today (Friday) when they finished at the bottom of the first round ranking on a total of 18 faults.
Under the new Meydan rules, the two teams with the lowest scores do not jump in the second round, and Britain on 17 faults joined the Irish team on the bench, with eight teams going forward to compete for the French Nations' Cup trophy.
Ireland's only clear round came from Nations' Cup veteran Cian
O'Connor and the 12-year-old gelding 'Complete'.
Co Cork's Shane Sweetnam, making his Meydan debut with the bay stallion 'Amaretto d'Arco', had one fence down and a time fault, while anchorman Denis Lynch accounted for 13 faults on his new horse 'All Inclusive'.
Ireland's opener, the US-based Kevin Babington and 'Souvenir', were the team's discard score of 17 faults.
Afterwards Horse Sport Ireland Team Manager Robert Splaine said: 'This was a very disappointing result. I knew the first competition of the series would be difficult, and we had three combinations that were new to this level, but it was disappointing nevertheless.
'We had two good rounds and needed a third, but just didn't get it. I'll be sitting down tonight to draw up my plan for Rome, which is in two weeks' time, and where we will have to up our game considerably.'
MEYDAN FEI NATIONS CUP OF FRANCE
La Baule
IRISH TEAM SCORE
ROUND 1
Kevin Babington; Souvenir 17 faults
Shane Sweetnam; Amaretto d'Arco 5 faults
Cian O'Connor; Complete 0 faults
Denis Lynch; All Inclusive NRW 13 faults
IRELAND TOTAL AFTER FIRST ROUND 18 faults
