The Irish Show Jumping team of Denis Lynch, Tom Wachman, Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Cian O'Connor have taken third place on the podium in the Nations Cup Of Ireland for the Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse Show, where The Netherlands lifted the trophy.
The Dutch were the only team to finish on a zero score after a superb display by their quartet of Frank Schuttert, Kevin Jochem, William Greve and Harrie Smolders. Anchor rider Smolders was under huge pressure when entering the RDS arena as last to go, as he knew a fence down would mean a three-way jump-off between Ireland, The Netherlands and Germany. Smolders kept his cool and delivered the all-important clear as Netherlands won the Aga Khan for the first time since 2010.
The Irish third place result included superb double clear performances from young guns, Tipperary's Tom Wachman (20) with Tabasco De Toxandria Z and Kilkenny's Seamus Hughes Kennedy (23) with the Irish-bred ESI Rocky (ISH). Meath's Cian O'Connor had four faults in the first round with Bently De Sury before jumping clear second time out. Tipperary's Denis Lynch and Vistogrant had four faults in each round with Ireland finishing on a final score of 4 faults. Germany would finish as runners-up on the same four fault score as Ireland but in a faster time.
Defending champions The USA had been in a share of the lead at the halfway stage but would have to settle for fourth place at the finish ahead of Great Britain in fifth, Canada in sixth, Mexico in seventh and Switzerland in eighth place.
