SPEIRS AND PORTERSIZE JUST A JIF POWER IRISH UP TO FOURTH AT DUTCH EVENTING NATIONS' CUP

THE Irish eventing team improved from overnight seventh after dressage to fourth of the 13 teams competing, after today's (Saturday) Cross Country phase at the three-star Nations' Cup at Beokelo in the Netherlands.

The top Irish placed combination is Camilla Speirs and her diminutive Olympic performer Portersize Just a Jif. The event marks a return to top class competition for the gelding, who had an unfortunate fall at last year's Olympic Games in London.

In what proved to be a very attritional course the combination incurred no jumping penalties and just 2.8 time penalties today to move up to tenth of the top 103 combinations taking part.

Early in play team mate Sarah Ennis and Stellor Rebound (ISH) put in a great round as pathfinders for the Irish team, going clear over the obstacles with just ten time penalties, to end up 23rd individually.

Ireland's other counting score comes from Austin O'Connor and Balham Houdini (ISH). They incurred 20 penalties early on the course but battled home to give Ireland a crucial third counting score as other teams fell away.

Irish Individual Michael Ryan incurred just .4 of a time fault and moved up a remarkable 64 places to 39th with Ballylynch Skyport.

There are 13 teams competing at the Final Eventing Nations' Cup of the season and Ireland with a total of 213 lie behind Germany (124.6), Great Britain (155), and France (210.8).

The event concludes with tomorrow's Show Jumping phase, which will decide the final placings.