BELGIUM pipped Ireland to the post to secure a back-to-back double when coming out on top in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Poland at the seaside town of Sopot in Poland last Sunday morning.

Rodrigo Pessoa fielded a team with plenty of experience, despite Peter Moloney making only his second five-star Nations Cup appearance and first on a Division 1 points-scoring team. Action went right down to the wire when Ireland and Belgium were tied on four faults after two rounds, with Pieter Devos securing it for the Belgian team.

Ireland scored a vital 90 points in the second of their four points scoring legs of the top division. The top seven teams qualify for the Nations Cup World Final in Barcelona, which this year carries the added importance of an Olympic team qualifying spot up for grabs.

Ireland got off to the perfect start when Limerick’s Paul O’Shea with Machu Picchu Partners LLC’s Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu (Silverstone x Matterhorn), first into the arena, produced the first clear round of the day.

Cork’s Shane Sweetnam debuted the 10-year-old gelding Alejandro (Acorado’s Ass x Continue), owned by Seabrook LLC and Spy Coast Farm LLC, and the combination were also foot perfect.

Waterford’s Peter Moloney looked to be heading for Ireland’s third clear with the Team Harmony-owned 11-year-old stallion Chianti’s Champion (Champion du Lys x Cornet Obolensky), however the last fence fell to leave them with four faults.

Wexford’s Bertram Allen was last to go for Ireland with Ballywalter Stable’s Harley VD Bisschop (Dulf van den Bisschop x Coronado). Allen was making his first appearance on an Irish team this season with his relatively new mount and finished with one fence down to leave Ireland on a total of four faults.

They were in a share of second place with Belgium and France at the halfway stage, with The Netherlands holding the lead on a zero score after three effortless clear rounds.

Second round

The Dutch domination collapsed in the second round, and in contrast the Irish stood firm with double-clears from O’Shea and Shane Sweetnam, backed up by a second-round clear from Moloney to leave Ireland on a team total of four, which meant Allen didn’t need to return.

It then came down to Devos for Belgium to produce a clear round in order to force a jump-off. Riding the lovely Apart, he duly obliged.

O’Shea was selected to go forward to the third round for Ireland and his time was lightning fast, but unfortunately the first fence fell and he came home with four faults in a time of 46.97 seconds.

Devos returned and the Belgian fans had a few tense moments when Apart hit the top pole at the first element of the penultimate double really hard. They crossed the line three seconds off O’Shea’s target time, but their zero score would seal it for Belgium.

Chef d’equipe Rodrigo Pessoa was very pleased with his team’s performance. “We were really close, we had good rounds with one or two new horses that we got to know a bit better. In the jump-off we had to go first which is always difficult and we made it a bit easier for Pieter,” he said.

“The points today were really important. To pick up 90 points today is really good as we don’t want to have to be chasing points at the end as it would be good to have the back up of Barcelona if needed for the qualification for the Olympics.”

Pessoa had special praise for Peter Moloney on his Division 1 debut. “The horse [Chianti’s Champion] has unbelievable potential and the kid [Peter Moloney] is very good, so today was very positive. Now we set our sights on our next Nations Cup in Aachen and the final stretch in Hickstead, Dublin and then the important European Championships.”

Grand Prix

There were two Irish in the top 10 of Friday’s five-star 1.60m Grand Prix. Peter Moloney finished in fifth place aboard Team Harmony’s 14-year-old mare Ornellaia when he was one of seven double clear rounds in a time of 46.14 seconds.

Bertram Allen faulted once with Harley vd Bisschop to finish 10th in a time of 44.49 seconds in the 13-horse jump-off. Victory went to Germany’s Daniel Deusser with Jasmien vd Bisschop (0/0 42.87).