Ireland narrowly missed out on a podium spot in the Nations Cup in St Gallen over the weekend but there was four-star success in Langley on Sunday.
The triumph in Canada marked a third successive triumph at the event, which wasn't held last season.
Ireland were drawn first but Conor Swail proved the perfect pathfinder with a clear round on My Lady Lavista, the 11-year-old old mare he has been riding for a year for Cherokee Show Horses. Jordan Coyle followed up in style with Elan Farm’s imposing Chaccolino making short work of the 1.55m course.
Christian Coyle capitalised on his long-awaited first opportunity to represent his country, guiding Extravaganza Semilly, owned by Alexis Bodo, to just four faults. Thanks to a flawless round from Daniel Coyle, the highest-ranked athlete in the world competing in the competition at 14, and Ariel Grange’s Farrel, the oldest participating horse at 15 who remarkably was part of the 2019-winning team, that was able to be the discard.
That had Ireland on zero faults at the half-way point. Mexico were just one jumping mistake behind, with Canada back in eight but as the former fell away, the hometown heroes ramped up the pressure.
But this was a very experienced Irish team and after Swail and My Lady Lavista dropped an early poll, they upped the revs in case time would be a factor and still navigated the rest of the course cleanly. Ali Ramsay went clear for Canada to ramp up the pressure but a completely unflustered Jordan Coyle and Chaccolino cantered around the arena as if out for a Sunday stroll to register their second blemish-free outing of the day.
Extravaganza Semilly had four faults early but Christian Coyle did a brilliant job of getting the mare around without adding to that tally, and that was to prove critical, as with Mario Deslauriers unable to go clear, Ireland’s victory was assured and Daniel Coyle and Farrel did not need to emerge from the pocket.
