SHOW JUMPING Ireland Pull off Sensational Win in German Nations Cup
Lying sixth of the world's top ten teams and ten-to-one outsiders when they entered the arena at Aachen tonight (Thursday), Ireland's quartet of Billy Twomey, Dermott Lennon, Cian O'Connor and Denis Lynch won the German Nations' Cup with the help of two double clear rounds from Lennon and O'Connor.
Ireland were in joint first on four faults with four other teams at the halfway stage, but a clear from Twomey and 'Tinka's Serenade', followed by a further two clears from Lennon with 'Hallmark Elite' and O'Connor on his new mare 'K Club Lady' meant that Lynch and 'Lantinus', who four-faulted in the first round, did not need to jump again to capture the trophy for Ireland.
Victory on what is regarded as one of the most difficult and forbidding courses in the world not only brought the capacity crowd to its feet, but also catapulted Ireland clear of the Meydan Superleague relegation zone, on whose edge it was teetering before tonight's triumph.
Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh, who was there to watch the Irish team at Aachen, said: "This has been an absolutely fantastic day for Irish show jumping. It was a privilege to be here and to hear the national anthem played and see the tricolour raised at what is one of Europe's biggest sporting occasions. I would like to heartily congratulate the riders, the owners and of course our Show Jumping Manager Robert Splaine."
SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO5* AACHEN GERMANY JULY 13-18
GERMAN NATIONS' CUP | Two Rounds 1m60 | Thursday 15th July 2010
- IRELAND 4 faults
Billy Twomey/Tinka's Serenade 4/0
Dermott Lennon/Hallmark Elite 0/0
Cian O'Connor/K Club Lady 0/0
Denis Lynch/Lantinus 4/- - GERMANY 9 faults
- USA 12 faults
- SWITZERLAND 16 faults
- FRANCE 16 faults
- NETHERLANDS 24 faults
- SWEDEN 31 faults
- GT. BRITAIN 35 faults