Ireland finish fourth in St Gallen Nations Cup while winning run continues in Hamburg

Denis Lynch and Vistogrand

The Irish Show Jumping team of Denis Lynch (Vistogrand), Trevor Breen (Highland President), Jason Foley (Chedington Hazy Toulana), and Michael Pender (HHS Los Angeles (ISH), finished fourth of nine teams in today’s (Friday) five-star Nations Cup at St Gallen in Switzerland.

Ireland made a strong start after both Denis Lynch and Trevor Breen jumped clear in the first round, however they had to count an 8 faults score from their final rider, Michael Pender, when Jason Foley finished with 9 faults. The second round saw Lynch and Breen complete double clear performances, while Foley came home with just one fence down. Anchor rider Pender retired second time out after picking up faults and knowing he couldn’t improve Ireland’s final score of 12 faults. That left Ireland in fourth place, narrowly missing out on a podium finish as they had a slightly slower time than the home Swiss team who also finished on 12 faults in third.

Victory went to Germany as the only team to finish on a zero score, while Belgium finished as runners-up on four faults.

Meanwhile at Hamburg in Germany, the 10-year-old mare BH Gringos Legacy (ISH), bred in Co Laois by Kieran Phelan and ridden by Guy Williams (GBR), stormed to victory in Friday’s second qualifier for the German Jumping-Derby. They finished a full 8 seconds ahead of the next best challenger while fourth place went to the Jerry Quinn-bred Hawthorn Hill (ISH) and Commandant Geoff Curran. On Wednesday in Hamburg, Army rider Curran guided DHF Alliance (ISH) to victory in the opening international class at the four-star show, while a profitable week for the Irish has also included wins for Shane Breen and for Ciaran Nallon.

BREEDING

BH Gringos Legacy (ISH) – 2015 mare by Tullibards Benny’s Legacy (OLD) out of Gringos Colourfield (ISH)[TIH] by Colourfield (TB). Breeder: Kieran Phelan (Laois). Rider: Guy Williams (GBR).

Hawthorn Hill (ISH) 2012 gelding by Cardento (HOLST). Dam: Tummery Limelight (ISH) by Limmerick. (HOLST) Breeder: Jerry Quinn. Rider Commandant Geoff Curran.

DHF Alliance (ISH) 2015, Mare by ARD VDL Douglas (KWPN) out of Rosie Bee (ISH), by Lux Z (Hann). Bred by Paul Douglas, Co. Tyrone.