TEAM France set the tone for the third season of the Longines League of Nations with a sensational win in Abu Dhabi (UAE). The French held their nerve to claim the season-opening title and lay down an early challenge, finishing on just eight faults across two gripping rounds. Germany took second on 12 faults, with Brazil also on 12 and edging into third on time.

Ireland’s new High Performance Show Jumping Manager Jessica Kurten said she was satisfied with her team's performance at Abu Dhabi but felt there was improvement needed after the their sixth-place finish.

Having been well positioned for a repeat of their 2025 opening leg win here on what was a flawless zero score at the break, things unravelled slightly in round two as the Irish team of Trevor and Shane Breen, Niamh McEvoy and Mikey Pender finished on a total of 20 faults.

Kurten described her pride in her team, particularly in round one, and will take plenty of positives despite the final tally.

“The Longines League of Nations today was like many we’ve seen over the years and I was proud of, and delighted with, Niamh and Olympic GL FVD, who gave an excellent performance to jump clear on their five star team debut," Kurten said.

“Shane was also very solid in round one with a great clear on BP Arctic Blue, while Trevor and Highland President did what they do in these competitions. They were brilliant.

“We decided not to use Mikey to save his horse to be fresh for the second round after those three clears, but I’ve been involved in these competitions now for so long on commentary that I’m more than aware that the first round is only a qualifier for the second round.

“Going in on a zero score was obviously an advantage, but so much changes in the second round that you should never get too excited. All-in-all I was very happy with the performance of the riders, but not too excited about the result. Highland President was very tired in the second round and Trevor felt that he overcompensated for that and it may have caused the two mistakes.

“Shane’s horse is very young at this level – first time around he jumped very easily but had two green mistakes in the second round. We’re going to see a lot more of him in the future when he gets more experience and Shane was delighted with the performance of his horse.

“Mikey went in and gave it a great try with HHS Los Angeles and I really believe if we’d been in a winning position, he would’ve jumped clear. It’s quite difficult going in there in a situation where you know that you’re a little bit down the leaderboard and trying to produce that clear round but I was very happy with Mikey and his performance. I felt HHS Los Angeles jumped very well, even with one pole down.

“We finished sixth overall, which is a safe result in the League of Nations series, but we need to improve in Ocala. We will be debriefing after this together and taking lots of positives, as well as discussing the negatives, and will aim to iron them out for the next leg. It was a thrill for me to be part of the Irish team again, especially in the League of Nations series, which proves to be so exciting with the three scores counting in the second round. It wasn’t the result we wanted but we will lick our wounds and it’s onwards and upwards.”

Running order

As Ireland’s pathfinders, Trevor Breen and Highland President gave the team the perfect start. McEvoy, one of the most decorated athletes across youth championships in Europe, was next in for Ireland with Olympic GL FVD and the 21-year-old Tyrone woman showed why so much faith has been placed in her with another magnificent clear round on what was her Longines League of Nations debut. She couldn’t hide her delight with ‘Ollie’ after jumping the last to secure the clear round, with her smile lighting up Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

Shane Breen, also making a first appearance in the Longines League of Nations, had another a zero score round with BP Arctic Blue meaning the team would jump last of the remaining eight nations in the second round as one of just two teams on zero.

It was the Breen brothers and Pender who would line up as Ireland’s trio in round two with all scores counting, leave little room for error.

Trevor had a desperately unlucky eight faults with Highland President. Brother Shane then replicated Trevor’s score of eight faults with Arctic Blue BP as Ireland lay in fifth place on 16 faults with Pender to come for the first time.

With a podium out of reach, Pender guided HHS Los Angeles around the tricky second round course for just four faults as Ireland finished on an overall total of 20 in sixth position of the 11 nations.

Impressive

There were a number of other impressive performances at the Abu Dhabi event, particularly on Sunday when McEvoy and Olympic 'GL' 'FVD' took fifth place in the five-star 1.60m Emirates Cup in Abu Dhabi. The Grand Prix class had 50 contestants and proved incredibly demanding with only two clear rounds in the first round and plenty more casualties among the baker’s dozen that returned. Brazilian Luciana Diniz took the honours in dramatic fashion with 17-year-old Vertigo du Desert, a second-round clear to go with their one time fault in the first round edging out Briton Tim Gredley with Medoc de Toxandria on two faults. McEvoy was coolness personified on her return to the ring, adding another clear to her first round tally of four faults to bag fifth and a pot of €24,688.

And before the LLN action got underway on Friday, Shane Breen and Scarteen (Golden Hawk) had a decisive win in the CSIO5* - Al Khail Square Welcome Stakes (1.45m). Taking almost eight seconds off the leading time of local hero, Abdullah-Humaid Al Muhair (UAE) and his horse Chacolu (76.24), Breen finished top of an elite field of 42 with a clear in 68.56 seconds.The pair were also fourth in Friday's CSIO5* - CISM Speed Stakes (1.50m). Another fourth place went Ireland's way on Sunday when David Simpson went clear in the CSI2* - Longines Grand Prix f (1.45 m) with Punch d'Anvers (Billy Tudor).