AN experienced Irish team pulled out all the stops in the second round of the five-star Nations Cup at La Baule in France to move up from eighth place at the halfway point to third at the finish.

Ten teams lined up for the 1.60m Coupe des Nations Barriere (Nations Cup) on Friday afternoon, with Ireland fielding a strong squad of experienced riders. Jessica Kurten had selected Darragh Kenny on Eddy Blue; Bertram Allen on Qonquest de Rigo; Cian O’Connor on Chatolinue PS and Shane Sweetnam on the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding James Kann Cruz (Kannan x CSF Telly Cruz by Cruising), bred by Patrick Connolly, for the Irish team, who were drawn sixth to jump.