Ireland eighth as Belgium win Nations Cup final

Michael Blake's Irish show jumping team of Andrew Bourns, Trevor Breen, Mikey Pender and Jack Ryan, have finished in eighth place overall in today’s 2022 Longines FEI Nations Cup final at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain.

Ireland had taken their place among teams that qualified for the final following a runner-up finish in the first qualifier in Barcelona on Thursday. The 2019 champions were runners-up in last year's competition.

Galway’s Andrew Bourns was first to go for Ireland with Sea Topblue (ISH), owned by Andrew Bourns & QBS Equestrian LLC. They were clear up until fence 11 where they picked up four faults and two further fences down on the way home saw them finish with 12 faults.

It was a similar story for Ireland’s second combination, Tipperary’s Trevor Breen with Highland President owned by Heather Black. They jumped clear over the opening half of the course but came home with 16 faults in total.

Kildare’s Mikey Pender, who celebrated his 23rd birthday this weekend, then produced a hugely impressive clear round with The Irish Sport Horse HHS Calais, owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd.

Kilkenny’s Jack Ryan was last to go with The Irish Sport Horse BBS McGregor (ISH) owned by Marguerite Ryan, and they finished with 8 faults, with Ireland completing on a final score of 20 faults.

Victory, and the one Olympic qualifying place on offer, went to last year's bronze medallists Belgium after a brilliant display that saw them finish as the only team on a zero score.

France finished as runners-up while third place went to Switzerland. Ireland had already qualified for Paris at this years FEI World Championships in Herning.