A SUPERB double clear round from Waterford’s Anthony Condon and the stallion Aristio helped Ireland to a sixth place finish in a tough opening Nations Cup of the 2016 season at Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates today (Thursday).

Ireland finished just two fences behind the winners from France, despite several Irish combinations making their five-star Nations Cup debut.

Eight of the 11 teams that started made the halfway cut, with Ireland safely making it through to the second round thanks to a clear from Condon and the John Hales-owned 10-year-old Aristio.

CaptBrian Cournane and the Headley Stud-owned Irish Sport Horse, Javas Kelic Mist, lowered just a single fence as the second round got underway, before Condon produced one of just two double clears in the competition with Aristio.

Marion Hughes knocked a single fence and added one time fault with Team Z7's Can Ya Makan, before an excellent clear round from former world champion Dermott Lennon with Rebecca McGoldrick's Fleur IV, saw the Irish overtake Egypt to finish sixth overall.

The Al Ain Nations Cup was not a points scoring round for Ireland as it was not part of theFurusiyyaEuropean Division 1 series.