Ireland Romp Home In Finnish Nations Cup

IRELAND HAS NOW won two Nations Cups back-to-back, with victory in the Finnish Nations Cup today (Sunday) following the Super League win at St. Gallen on June 1.

Though starting as favourites after two days of competition at the Nations Cup venue of Hamina, Finland, the Irish squad had everything to prove upon their arrival last Thursday.

With squad member Conor Swail out of action due to a serious cholic problem with his horse, and individual rider Cian O'Connor drafted in as last-minute team replacement on a horse untried at Nations Cup level, the team had the added unknown quantity of Clones-born rider Clem McMahon making his Nations Cup debut.

But today (Sunday) the Irish team, under Chef d'Equipe Lt. Col. Gerry Mullins, rounded off a weekend of superb riding with an outright victory in the Samsung Nations Cup of Finland.

With several class victories already behind them, including Nations Cup rookie Clem McMahon's superb Grand Prix win yesterday (Saturday), the Irish led at the halfway mark, with clears from Lt. Shane Carey on <Killossery>, Cian O'Connor on the Nations Cup debutante <Calanda>, and McMahon on <Gelvin Clover>. Capt. Gerry Flynn had five faults and was the first-round discard score.

Carey and O'Connor finished the second round on clears, while McMahon had one fence down, giving the Irish a total of four faults. Carey and O'Connor's double clears were two of only three achieved in the whole competition. Flynn did not jump in the second round.

Clem McMahon was also awarded the Leading Rider Trophy for the Hamina Horse Show..

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO**** HAMINA FINLAND 13-15 JUNE 2003

1) IRELAND 4 Faults
Lt. Shane Carey; Killossery 0/0
Cian O'Connor; Calanda 0/0
Capt. Gerry Flynn; Bornacoola 5/-
Clement McMahon; Gelvin Clover 0/4

2) FINLAND 19 Faults
3) GERMANY 28 Faults
4) DENMARK 31 Faults
=5) SWITZERLAND 33 Faults
=5) SWEDEN 33 Faults
7) NORWAY 53 Faults
8) RUSSIA 79 Faults

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