Ireland win four-star Nations Cup in Florida

An impressive performance Michael Blake's Irish Show Jumping team saw them win the four-star Nations Cup at the Winter Equestrian Festival for the fourth time in the 21-year history of the competition at the Florida venue.

The victory for team of Eoin McMahon, Max Wachman, Andrew Bourns and Cian O'Connor is the second major win of the year following their triumph in the 4opening FEI Nations Cup of the season at Abu Dhabi in January.

Ireland held a share of the lead with Canada at the halfway stage thanks to perfect clear rounds from McMahon with Chakra 9, Wachman with Berlux Z and Bourns with Sea Topblue.

That meant Irish anchor rider, O’Connor, did not need to jump in the first round with with Cerruti Van Ter Hulst Z.

McMahon also left all the fences standing in round two, picking up just a time fault. It was another excellent performance for the Clare man, who represented Ireland in last year's European Championships, and at the Nations Cup World Final in Barcelona.

"Coming here, it was my plan to jump Chakra in the Nations Cup, so we planned our weeks up to tonight. She’s been a very good horse for me," he said of the 12-year-old mare.

"Even though she’s 12, she’s not that experienced. She improved a lot from last year to this year. She’s been very consistent since we got here."

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