FOR the third time in history, the Irish show jumping team today (Friday) emerged as winners of the five-star Nations Cup of France in La Baule. An Irish team that included a mixture of youth and experience, were pushed all the way by Belgium, but it was the Irish who came out on top at the French seaside venue after a flawless display to finish on zero faults.

The Irish arrived in La Baule on the back of a Nations Cup win last weekend in British Columbia and knew they would face an event tougher test in La Baule where a world class field had assembled.