Show Jumping - Ireland Joint Third In Aga Khan Trophy

THE SUN never really broke through the afternoon heat mist in the main arena at the RDS Dublin today (Friday), and Irish hopes of a victory in the Aga Khan Trophy also failed to brighten when the first three riders posted four faults apiece, Billy Twomey adding a time fault to his penalties, and anchorman Kevin Babington incurred an uncharacteristic eight faults.

Ireland entered the sixth leg of the Samsung Super League series as firm favourites, running just half a point behind leaders France, but as each Irish rider clipped a single fence in the first round, the sense of disappointment from the capacity crowd became almost palpable.

At the halfway mark Ireland were lying joint Fifth with Sweden, while France and the Netherlands shared pole position on zero faults apiece.

Ireland's second round opener Robert Splaine with <Coolcorron Cool Diamond> was unlucky to have a foot on the tape at the water jump, while second man in, Cian O'Connor, had a plank down at the third fence in what was an otherwise perfect jumping round on <Waterford Crystal>.

Cork's Billy Twomey redeemed himself with a clear round on <Luidam> in the second half, while Kevin Babington on <Carling King> also returned to form with a clear.

Though ostensibly competing for a prize fund of 134,000 Euro, there was much more at stake at Dublin today, as Ireland, lying second behind France in the Samsung Super League, badly needed to add more points. This will now be the target at Rotterdam at the end of August, and again in the final Super League fixture at Barcelona in September, when double points will be awarded, and where the league table could undergo a substantial transformation.

The result at Dublin does not affect Ireland's Second place in the Super League, but does open up the gap with leaders France to 6 points.

The Irish selectors will now also have some hard decisions to take when selecting the defending European Championship team to compete at Donaueshingen in Germany, just four days before Rotterdam, as team qualification for the 2004 Olympics will depend entirely upon a top class performance at the championships.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS AUGUST 8, 2003
CSIO DUBLIN IRELAND AUGUST 6-10, 2003

THE SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE OF IRELAND
For award of the Aga Khan Challenge Trophy
In Association with Failte Ireland
International Team Jumping Competition, FEI Art. 264
Friday, August 8, 2003

1) FRANCE 8 Faults
2) Gt. BRITAIN 9 Faults
=3) NETHERLANDS 17 Faults

=3) IRELAND 17 Faults
Robert Splaine; Coolcorron Cool Diamond 4/4
Cian O'Connor; Waterford Crystal 4/4
Billy Twomey; Luidam 5/0
Kevin Babington; Carling King 8/0

5) BELGIUM 20 Faults
6) GERMANY 24 Faults
7) SWEDEN 26 Faults
8) ITALY (Retd.)

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE TABLE AFTER DUBLIN CSIO

1) FRANCE 47 points
2) IRELAND 41 points
3) GT. BRITAIN 33 points
4) GERMANY 23 points
5) BELGIUM 16.5 points
6) NETHERLANDS 15 points
7) SWEDEN 11 points
8) ITALY 8.5 points

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