Chef d'Equipe Robert Splaine with The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup as Team Ireland celebrate. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

IRELAND WON THE Aga Khan Trophy today at the RDS, registering a team total of four faults and the last man not needing to jump in the final round.

“This was a momentous occasion for us, as it always is when we win in front of the home crowd, whose enthusiasm always lifts our game,” said team manager Robert Splaine. “This Aga Khan victory falls in with our overall plan, with different combinations improving and maturing as the year progresses. We do aspire to be the best in the world, and hopefully others are now seeing that this is possible.

“Today’s Aga Khan win can only give us great confidence for the future, which is now looking a great deal brighter”.

President Michael D. Higgins and wife Sabina at the RDS. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Points gained from today’s impressive performance in front of an ecstatic crowd also ensured that Ireland will stay in Division One of the Furusiyya FEI Nations’ Cup league for 2016, and their fifth place on the series table now qualifies Robert Splaine’s chosen squad for inclusion in the Nations’ Cup Final at Barcelona in September.

The Netherlands took second place in the Aga Khan competition this afternoon, with eight faults, while Switzerland finished third on 13 faults.

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