ON a day of high drama in Abu Dhabi, Germany pipped Ireland to win the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of the United Arab Emirates while the hosts and Saudi Arabia claimed the two qualifying spots on offer for the 2019 series final in Barcelona next October.

Ireland got off to the perfect start when Tipperary’s Trevor Breen jumped a brilliant clear round with Karen Swann’s 10-year-old gelding Escapade H on his debut at this level. David Simpson ran into trouble at the open water fence and was later eliminated for two refusals with Charlotte Platt’s Jenson, but would later redeem himself.

Trevor’s older brother Shane picked up four faults aboard Breen Equestrian, Jos Lansink Horses and Konstantin Pysarenko’s Ipswich van de Wolfsakker, before Mark McAuley produced a foot perfect round with his talented 10-year-old gelding Jasco vd Bisschop, owned by Eva Lundin.

That left Ireland in second place at the half way stage on four faults, with the German team of Mario Stevens, Sven Schlüsselburg, Miriam Schneider and Philipp Weishaupt out in the lead with a single time fault.

Trevor Breen returned with five faults in round two, and with the open water replaced by an oxer in the second round, Simpson came back to post a fantastic clear over the course designed by Spain’s Santiago Varela, while Shane finished with another four faults.

Second-last to go in the class, McAuley looked set to wrap up the Irish effort with a lovely double-clear from Jasco vd Bisschop, but the gelding suddenly seemed to see a ghost and pulled violently left in front of the very last fence.

Miraculously the Irishman persuaded the horse to get airborne, but the pair landed in a heap of poles, and both looked completely mystified as they left the arena, fortunately unscathed.

McAuley’s elimination meant Ireland finished on a team total of 13 faults, behind the Germans on six. UAE and Saudi Arabia each completed on an 18-fault total to clinch those qualifying spots, their quicker combined times leaving the hosts in third at the end of the day ahead of their Saudi neighbours in fourth place.

Speaking afterwards, chef d’equipe Michael Blake said: “I am very happy with our team. We had two inexperienced horses, Trevor’s horse Escapade H and David’s Jenson had never jumped a Nations Cup before so it was good to see each of them jumping a clear round.

“I thought on paper that Germany looked to have the strongest team and that’s the way the competition finished up.

“We are looking ahead now to Wellington in Florida next week where we will be aiming for another good result.”

GRAND PRIX VICTORY

Shane Breen galloped to victory in last Friday’s two-star Grand Prix at the Nations Cup show in Abu Dhabi aboard Laith, marking the stallion’s first win at international level since returning from a year-long injury layoff last month.

Some 45 combinations started over the 1.45m track, and seven of those progressed to the timed round. Breen and Team Z7’s 12-year-old managed to take the fastest route in the jump-off to break the beam in a time of 39.31 seconds, securing victory and just over €7,500.

Denmark’s Tina Lund took the runner-up spot with the 11-year-old mare Indiana van Klapscheut in a 41.28 seconds, ahead of Frenchman Frédéric David and Equador van’t Roosakker (0/0 43.88) in third place.

Breen’s other top result came in Wednesday’s five-star 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier when he slotted into second place with Ipswich van de Wolfsakker, behind Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt.