IRELAND HAD TO settle for third place today in the FEI Nations Cup of Ireland at the Dublin Horse Show, with Britain getting their hands on the Aga Khan Trophy for the 27th time.
Nevertheless, a top-three finish was sufficient for Ireland to book their place at October’s Nations Cup world final in Barcelona, where a team qualification place for the 2020 Olympics will be at stake.
Riding Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu, Limerick’s Paul O’Shea produced a superb double-clear round at the RDS.
However, the Irish team — which also included Cian O’Connor, Shane Sweetnam and achor rider Darragh Kenny — ultimately finished with 16 faults.
The British quartet of Scott Brash, Holly Smith, Emily Moffitt and Ben Maher romped to victory with just one fault, while Italy had 12 en route to taking second place.
The ref who was having a fine game just threw it all away with that free at the end. Never a free in a million years.
Very soft free at the end
Looking forward to this one – should be a cracker. I fancy Cuala to do it given that Na Piarsaigh have two lads suspended
I would have put my house on that free being saved.
Player held the opponents hurl..had to give free.