THE Irish show jumping team finished runners-up in the CSIO4* FEI Longines Nations Cup at Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates where Britain ran out the convincing winners.

Michael Blake fielded an experienced team of Michael Duffy, Jessica Burke and brothers Shane and Trevor Breen, the same team that finished third in the five-star Nations Cup of Abu Dhabi last month.

Duffy was the team pathfinder with Hibernian Sport Horses Ltd’s 14-year-old mare Cinca 3, a new mount to his string. The grey mare was clear over the jumps but finished over the time allowed to pick up two time faults.

Burke was next with Liam Nicholas’ 10-year-old mare Nikey HH and the pair finished with four faults, before Shane Breen produced a clear with Breen Equestrian Ltd and Quirke Sport Horses’ 11-year-old gelding Cuick Star Kervec. The second Breen brother – Trevor – was the anchorman with Mandy Hall’s Germaine W and finished with four faults. That left Ireland in second place at the halfway point, behind Britain on four faults.

Duffy was foot-perfect in the second round, while Burke and the two Breens both added four faults leaving Ireland on a score of 14. An excellent performance from the British team of William Funnell, Tim Gredley, Donald Whitaker and Joe Whitaker saw them finish on six faults to take victory. The home nation of UAE were third on the podium with 26 faults.

Michael Blake commented: “We secured another podium finish today. We are disappointed not to take the win but Great Britain outperformed us on the day and many congratulations to them. Our horses all jumped well and learned from the experience. They are all new combinations at this level but we didn’t jump enough clear rounds and clear rounds win Nations Cups.”

Speaking about the performance, Michael Duffy said: “We’re happy to finish second today with a strong performance by the team and I’m thrilled with Cinca 3, owned by Hibernia Horses, which is a new venture with some great people involved.

“She’s new to my stables with this UAE tour being our first outing. Unfortunately, being just over a second outside the time allowed kept us from producing a double clear, but overall, very happy and looking forward to the season ahead with this mare.”

Breen win

Shane Breen won Sunday’s 1.45m jump-off class aboard his long-term partner Z7 Ipswich. The 15-year-old chesnut gelding, owned by Team Z7, was the best of six clears in the jump-off to win €6,550.

The Irish Sport Horse Much Loved, bred by Philip McManus, finished sixth under Syria’s Amre Hamcho. The eight-year-old by Luidam was produced in Ireland by Francis Connors for Highfort Stud before being sold in 2022.