Irish have mixed fortunes in Wierden Cups

Irish pony and junior riders experienced mixed fortunes in the two Nations' Cups at Wierden in the Netherlands today (Thursday).

With only three available riders and no discard score, the Junior team of Bertram Allen, Max O'Reilly Hyland and Sven Hadley had the odds stacked against them, but still managed to finish fourth of ten teams on a total of 20 penalties.

A superb double clear round from Hadley and Adelgonde Z was the highlight of the Irish performance, with Max O'Reilly Hyland and Westwinds Cirracruise chalking up a total of 12 faults over two rounds, and Bertram Allen with Zenzation taking down a single pole in each round to finish on a tally of eight faults.

The Junior Nations' Cup was won by Belgium on 11 penalties.

Ireland fared better in the Pony Nations' Cup with a full team of four, finishing as runners-up to the Netherlands, whose four clear rounds helped them complete with just 16 faults.

Ireland accumulated 33 faults, despite opening zero scores from Molly O'Shea on More Clover and Darragh Ryan with Quantum Light. O'Shea's second attempt ended in elimination, and did Matt Garrigan's first round on Dr. Spot, the combination picking up nine faults on their second outing.

Ryan returned after the break with eight faults while Tom Foley and Crown Jewel recorded eight faults in each round.