MICHAEL Blake's Irish show jumping team of Denis Lynch, Trevor Breen, Mark McAuley and Darragh Kenny have claimed a fourth place finish in today's (Sunday) Longines FEI Nations Cup of Poland in Sopot, which was Ireland's first opportunity this season to claim points in Europe's top division.

Tipperary's Denis Lynch got Ireland off to the best possible start with a clear round with his Rome Grand Prix winner Brooklyn Heights. Another Tipperary rider, Cashel's Trevor Breen was next to go with the Heather Black-owned Highland President and they finished with one fence down and a single time fault. Louth’s Mark McAuley then picked up nine faults with Django Ste Hermelle, owned by SNC McAuley, but this would be Ireland's discard score when Offaly’s Darragh Kenny finished with one fence down aboard Volnay Du Boisdeville, owned by Teddy Vlock.

Ireland were in fourth place at the halfway stage on nine faults and Lynch boosted Irish hopes when he completed a double clear performance with the Molly Ohrstrom-owned Brooklyn Heights - one of just four double clears in the competition. Another excellent round followed from Breen when he left all the fences standing and crossed the line with just a time fault.

McAuley repeated his nine fault score second time out before a brilliant clear from anchor rider Kenny saw Ireland add just one time fault in the second round to their first round score of nine faults to finish on a two round total of 10 faults.

Victory in Sopot went to reigning champions Germany on four faults, while France (7 faults) took runner-up spot ahead of Switzerland (8 faults) in third. Ireland's fourth place finish saw them collect 70 points at what was their first points-scoring round in Europe Division 1 on the road to the FEI Nations Cup World Final in Barcelona at the end of September.

Live on RTE 2

Ireland's remaining three Nations Cup outings in Europe Division 1 will all be shown live on RTE 2 television starting at Rotterdam in The Netherlands on Friday June 24th, followed by Hickstead (GBR) on July 29th and Ireland's home Nations Cup for the Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse Show on Friday August 19th.

The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange

Equiline – Official athlete clothing supplier of Horse Sport Ireland

Source: Horse Sport Ireland press release.