A BRILLIANT win by the Irish pony show jumping team in the Nations Cup at Hagen, Germany, saw the Irish squad finish on five faults after two rounds. A double clear round from Co Clare’s Jason Foley on the Irish-bred Lynncot Fancy Pants sealed victory for Gary Marshall’s team of Sligo’s Cian Harrison, Wexford’s Harry Allen and Kilkenny’s Oisin Aylward.

Ireland held the lead along with Germany at the halfway stage and while the home nation faded to finish sixth, the Italians and British riders continued to produce clear rounds to pile on the pressure.

Cian Harrison was foot-perfect in the opening round with Knockeroghery Prince and knocked just a single fence second time out.

Harry Allen had one rail down in the first round aboard Cassandra Van Het Roelhof but jumped a vital clear in round two. Kilkenny’s Oisin Aylward and Coppenagh Oliver Twist left all the fences standing, coming home with just a single time fault, and finished with one fence down in the second round.

With Italy finishing on eight faults, one fence down from Ireland’s last rider Jason Foley would have given the Italians the trophy. However Foley kept his cool to deliver his second clear – leaving Ireland as winners ahead of Italy in second and Britain in third.

Horse Sport Ireland pony show jumping team manager Gary Marshall told The Irish Field: “The team of Cian, Harry, Jason and Oisin were absolutely brilliant at Hagen. We were level with Germany at halfway but the pressure got to the Germans and the French. My team kept cool under pressure, performing brilliantly to win despite strong pressure from the Italians and the British.

“I have to say I’m bowled over with the brilliance of Ireland’s pony riders at the four shows I have been to with them, three wins and a place. Again and again, Ireland produces the best pony riders, the best-bred ponies. I’m delighted but of course it makes my selection headache for the Europeans a lot bigger. I really have to do my homework and it won’t be easy. It’s a nice headache to have.

“The way this team performed in Hagen, most of the countries, bar the British, brought their first teams. They battled and kept it together under pressue to pull it out of the bag and win. They really shone. I’m very proud of them all,” said Marshall.

Harry Allen, third in the 1.35m Grand Prix with Cassandra Van Het Roelhof, also took victory in the pony speed class with the Irish-bred pony Aughnashammer, while Cork’s Abbie Sweetnam was third with Spartacus Reape.