Ireland runners up in bid to retain Aga Khan Trophy

In the run-up to the FEI Nations Cup for the Aga Khan Trophy, there was a feeling that it would boil down to a shootout between Ireland and Switzerland, and that was how it transpired.

Unlike last year, it wasn’t glory for Michael Blake’s The Underwriting Exchange Irish team and they had to settle for a creditable second place finish behind an impeccable Swiss performance.

Drawn fifth to jump out of the eight teams, Ireland knew the task in hand, especially with their main rivals starting the competition with the advantage of being drawn last to go.

The first Irish rider into the prestigious Royal Dublin Society Main Arena and making his Aga Khan Trophy debut was Galway’s Michael Duffy riding Cinca 3, owned by Hibernian Horses Ltd.

Duffy got Ireland off to a strong start, a toe in the water-jump leaving him on four faults, but certainly a debut round to be proud of.

Another Aga Khan Trophy debutant but certainly no stranger to success, Michael Pender was next in for Ireland riding the Irish Sport Horse HHS Calais (ISH), owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd. The same water jump caused Pender also to finish on four faults.

A member of the winning team last year, and also in 2015, 2012 and 2004, Cian O’Connor was Ireland’s third line rider, partnering Nicole Walker’s nine-year-old mare Eve D’Ouilly. The third part of the combination was the only pole to fall for O’Connor, leaving Ireland on a team score of eight faults after the first three riders.

A combination who are no stranger to Aga Khan success – Shane Sweetnam and the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz (ISH) were the anchors for the Irish team. Owned by Gizmo Partners LLC, the grey gelding rose to the occasion.

A clear was needed and was duly delivered. The home crowd came to