IRISH show jumpers and eventers both scored podium place finishes in Nations Cup action last weekend. The first of those came from Michael Blake’s show jumping team in the three-star Division 2 Nations Cup at Uggerhalne in Denmark.

Blake fielded two Nations Cup newcomers on the team, both Jenny Rankin and Peter Moloney making their senior debuts. They were joined by the very experienced Clem McMahon and British-based Richard Howley.

Despite a shaky start which saw the team lying in a share of seventh place at the half-way stage, Ireland fought back to finish joint-third with a score of 28 faults. The stand-out performance came from Waterford’s Peter Moloney with the Irish-bred Compelling Z (Chellano Z x Carthago Z) when jumping a food perfect clear in the second round.

Owned and bred by Carmel Ryan in Co Waterford, the eight-year-old Zangersheide stallion has been impressive under Moloney, who is based at Princess Haya’s Team Harmony stable in Britain. The combination were fifth in the five-year-old final at the Dublin Horse Show in 2015 and earlier this month didn’t touch a pole at the five-star Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Another combination in flying form, Jenny Rankin earned her place on the team with Deirdre Bourns’ Bennys Lagacy (Lupicor x Voltaire) after impressive winning performances at three-star Redefin earlier this month and she improved on her eight fault score in the first round to finish with just four faults in round two.

Howley, aboard his fiancé Morgan Kent’s 10-year-old mare Dolores (Berlin x Voltaire), produced two good four fault rounds. Pathfinder in both rounds, Monaghan’s Clem McMahon rode the Irish Sport Horse Pacato (Pacino x Cavalier Royale) to his first Nations Cup and picked up eight faults in each round. The combination were coming off the back of a run of good results at two and three-star Grand Prix level in Spain.

Victory went to Germany on 20 faults with Britain in second (24) and Belgium joint third with Ireland on 28 faults.

Speaking afterwards, development team manager, Michael Blake, said: “I am really, really happy with all our team. This was an inexperienced team with Peter Moloney and Jenny Rankin making their Nations Cup debut and our four horses ranging from just eight to 10 years old.

“When I walked the course I knew this competition was going to be won on a high score. It was a very tough course with a particularly difficult line to the combination. These Division 2 Nations Cups are always competitive and I am very proud of how we did against some very strong teams.”