Ireland continue fine form with third place in Sweden

Ireland secured their tenth podium of the season as they finished third at the five-star Agria Falsterbo Nations Cup in Sweden.

It follows last week's victory in Aachen as the team looks to build momentum ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris.

Cian O'Connor, aboard Fancy De Kergane, managed a sensational double clear to put them in the hunt but Conor Swail, on Casturano, was eliminated which put paid to another triumph as all of the other results counted towards the team's final score.

Daniel Coyle and Incredible returned eight faults, Ireland slipped out of first place, which they had held early on. Darragh Kenny and Eddy Blue also picked up a four-point fault as Ireland finished on 12 faults, the same as the USA, but with a faster time.

Sweden ultimately took top prize on home soil as Emma Emanuelsson with Canbella Blue PS finished on four faults and Germany's Sandra Auffarth on board Quirici had three poles down for 12 faults on board.

"I’m relatively pleased with the result," said Horse Sport Ireland High Performance Show Jumping Director Michael Blake.

"It was all going very well at the halfway point but obviously Conor’s elimination has put us on the back foot and some little mistakes have cost us in the second round.

"Obviously a podium finish in a Nations Cup is nothing to be sniffed at, and it keeps plenty of momentum going towards Paris. I was also really pleased with Fancy De Kergane’s double clear – he’s only nine and has a very bright future ahead of him at this level."