Ireland Fail To Shine In Rotterdam Nations Cup

IRELAND'S show jumping team failed to rise to the occasion at the last-but-one of the Samsung Super League fixtures in Rotterdam today (Friday), and must now rely on the double-points scoring system at Barcelona's Final in September if they are to overtake France for the Series trophy.

Home team Holland took today's Super League Cup, while Italy, Sweden and France tied for second place, an unprecedented occurrence in the Super League, but one which France another 5.3 points to further increase their lead in the rankings. Ireland tied for seventh place with Germany.

Finishing so far down in the competition was certainly not the result Irish Chef d'Equipe Tommy Wade had been looking for, and there may be some serious head-scratching by the selectors before Barcelona.

Ireland were lying in second place to France going into today's 7th leg of the 2003 Super League series, but with a widening gap. And hopes that a Top 3 place would narrow that gap were dashed on the rainswept turf of Rotterdam when France took points for their equal second place, while Ireland never looked at all in serious contention, though scoring three clear rounds in total, and one jumping clear with a single time fault.

Trailing in 7th of eight teams at the halfway mark, with only European Champions Germany behind them, the Irish squad began to show signs of the fatigue that has followed a long Super League season, together with the strain of the European Championships last week, and the struggle to qualify for the 2004 Olympics. Drafting World Champion Dermott Lennon into the team did not yield any dividends, as he failed to find form on his new horse, <Quality>.

Ireland must now look to finishing well at Barcelona in September, where double points are awarded for places.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO ROTTERDAM NETHERLANDS 28-31 AUGUST 2003

SAMSUNG SUPERLEAGUE OF THE NETHERLANDS
Nations Cup 1.60m FEI 264
Friday, August 29, 2003

1) NETHERLANDS 0 Faults
=2) ITALY 4 Faults
=2) SWEDEN 4 Faults
=2) FRANCE 4 Faults
5) Gt.BRITAIN 9 Faults
6) BELGIUM 12 Faults
=7) IRELAND 13 Faults
Anastasia III; Billy Twomey 0/0
Obos Quality; Dermott Lennon 12/16
Waterford Crystal; Cian O’Connor 8/4
Pershing; Peter Charles 1/0
=7) GERMANY 13 Faults

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE LEADERBOARD

1. France - 52.30 points
2. Ireland - 41.75 points
3. Great Britain - 36 points
4. Netherlands - 25 points
5. Germany - 23.75 points
6. Belgium – 18.5 points
7. Sweden - 16.3 points
8. Italy – 13.8 points.

http://www.horsesport.ie

.