JESSICA Kürten’s reign as Horse Sport Ireland’s High Performance Jumping Manager got off to a very solid start with a podium finish in the four-star Nations Cup in Sharjah last Sunday.

Kürten mixed experience with youth when selecting her team, with the Breen brothers from Tipperary, Trevor and Shane, being joined by David Simpson and Mikey Pender.

Simpson did a solid job as pathfinder, the Derry rider posting two rounds of four faults each on board Billy Fern.

Trevor Breen and Kannoon Blue followed with a similar return in the first round, but two splendid clears by Pender on the Miguel Bravo-bred Irish Sport Horse HHS Orchidee, and Shane Breen with BP Arctic Blue placed Kürten’s crew in the silver medal position at the half-way point.

David Will’s Germany, who were faultless, held the lead and double clears by the chef d’equipe with Xixo Borgia and Sophie Hinners with Lommers ensured that they would retain their position when the dust had cleared.

There were no clear rounds for the Irish, however, with Simpson and Shane Breen (who acted as chef d’equipe at the event) doing their best with one rail each down, and Pender’s eight faults also counting as Trevor Breen and Kannoon Blue recorded the discard score of 13.

Those 16 faults left Ireland with a total of 20, and they dropped down a position as a result, with the UAE finishing second.

The new boss said she was very pleased with the opening result of her stewardship.

“It was a great podium finish today from a team of young horses and great riders,” said the Antrim woman. “It was a good opportunity to give these horses some exposure and experience at this level, looking towards the future.”

Breeding

HHS ORCHIDEE (ISH) – 2016 br mare by Le Roi (ZfdP) out of HHS Tiffany (ISH) by Luidam (KWPN). Breeder: Miguel Bravo. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd, Molly Hughes Bravo. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL)