In-form Ireland victorious in Canada

Ireland's show jumping team followed up a first win in the Rome leg of the Longines FEI Nations Cup with a successful title defence of their Nations Cup of Canada title at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley on Sunday.

Michael Blake's team of Shane Sweetnam on James Kann Cruz, Daniel Coyle on Gisborne VDL, David Blake on Claude and anchorman Conor Swail on Nadal Hero & DB were drawn third of the five competing Nations.

Sweetnam got Ireland off to the perfect start and was one of only two riders to jump double-clear all evening.

Second into the arena for Ireland was Coyle and Gisborne VDL. An unfortunate two fences down left the round as the discard score.

With pressure mounting, Blake and Swail had to deliver to keep Ireland in contention. One fence down from Blake and a clear round from Swail left Ireland on four faults to lead alongside the host nation at the halfway stage.

A fence down from Canada’s first rider in round two opened the door for Ireland, and they grasped the advantage in ruthless fashion.

Clicking into gear, three perfect clear rounds from Sweetnam, Coyle and Blake meant Ireland finished on a team total of four without Swail even having to jump.

Four faults for Amy Millar, Canada’s final rider, meant they finished on a team score of eight faults in second place. The United States completed the podium, finishing on a team score of 28.

Speaking after the win, chef d’equipe Blake said: "The team are really coming into a rich vein of form now and we are doing it on all sides of the world.

"We have been on the podium in the Middle East, second behind the home team in California and now we're starting to peak, with the win in Rome followed by this here.

"To win so dominantly was what really pleased me and clearly these