News
24 March 2024
Team Ireland are the stars at second leg in Ocala
They missed out to Team Germany at the opening leg in Abu Dhabi in the UAE last month, but under the lights at the World Equestrian Centre in Ocala, USA it was Michael Blake’s Irish side that came out on top at the second leg of the brand new Longines League of Nations™.
Clears from Darragh Kenny (Amsterdam 27), Daniel Coyle (Legacy) and Shane Sweetnam (Otis Blue) meant fourth rider Cian O’Connor (Maurice) didn’t have to jump in the first round when the best three results of each team were taken into account.
On level pegging with the USA and The Netherlands who were also on a zero scoreline going into round two in which just three riders lined out and all scores were counted, the Irish won through when adding just five faults, Kenny leaving one fence on the floor this time out, Coyle producing his second clear of the day and O’Connor wrapping it up with just a single time fault while Sweetnam watched on from the sidelines.
Switzerland rose from seventh after the first round to finish second on a total of eight faults, while Team USA stood on the third step of the podium on a final tally of 12, just edging out the Dutch who also finished on 12 faults but whose combined times were fractionally slower.
Ireland have now moved to the top of the League table ahead of the third of the four qualifying rounds which will take place at St Gallen (SUI) on 31 May.