Ireland wins Belgian Nations' Cup

Ireland took the Nations' Cup trophy at Lummen, Belgium this Friday with a one fence margin over home team Belgium at the finish.

Leading at the halfway mark on just four faults, the Irish were one of 14 nations competing, and one of six to go through to the second round.

And though the Belgians rallied on their second appearance, with two clear rounds, they were unable to catch the Irish, who accumulated 16 faults in total, against Belgium's 20.

Marie Burke and 'Chippison' and Marion Hughes with 'Heritage Transmission' both went clear on their first outing today in the five-star contest, and both had one fence down in the second round. Pathfinder Denis Lynch had four faults in each round with 'Lancelot', while Capt. David O'Brien had an unfortunate day with 'Ringfort Cruise', accumulating 16 faults on his first attempt, and retiring on the second round.

Ireland's last Nations' Cup victory was at Copenhagen in Denmark last month, when they again beat Belgium, this time in a jump-off for first place after the two teams tied with 12 faults. Chef d'Equipe at both events was Robert Splaine, who said today: ''I'm absolutely delighted. It was a difficult, strong track, but the consistency of performance was there today.

Results (30.05.06)

FEI Nations Cup – Belgium
Art. 264 Table A 1,50m

1º Ireland / 16

Denis Lynch (Irl) / Lancelot / 4/4
David O’Brien (Irl) / Ringfort Cruise / 16/R
Marie Burke (Irl) / Chippison / 0/4
Marion Hughes (Irl) / Transmission / 0/4

2º Belgium / 20

Dirk Demeersman (Bel) / Clinton / 8/14
Koen Vereecke (Bel) / Suleyman By De Wulf Selection / 8/4
Judy-Ann Melchior (Bel) / Grande Dame / 9/0
Jos Lansink (Bel) / Turbo-R / 0/0

3º Holland / 24

Roelof Bril (Hol) / Billy Orange / 20/12
Henk Van de Pol (Hol) / Rhodos / 4/0
Peter Bulthuis (Hol) / Lismacbryan Junior / 4/4
Jur Vrieling (Hol) / Km Nerina / 8/4

3º Ukraine / 24

Gregory Wathelet (Ucr) / Hyades Belmaniere / 12/4
Katharina Offel (Ucr) / Atlanta / 4/4
Jean Claude Vangeenberghe (Ucr) / Tresor / 0/0

5º Spain / 28

Rutherford Latham (Esp) / Guarana Champeix / 8/4
Sergio Moya (Esp) / Le Reve du Nabab / 0/4
Ricardo Jurado (Esp) / Procasa Le Monde / 8/4
Manuel Fernández Saro (Esp) / Quin Chin / 8/4

6º Austria / 33

Stefan Eder (Aus) / Cartier Psg / 4/4
Sabine Seeburger-Schranz (Aus) / Adhesive’s Jem Twist / 9/8
Jürgen Krackow (Aut) / Looping 33 / 12/4
Gerfried Puck (Aus) / 11th And Bleeker / 4/12

7º Saudi Arabia / 17-264,69

Khaled Al Eid (Sau) / Al Riyadh / R
Kamal Bahamdan (Ksa) / Campus 8 / 13
Abdullah Bin Metab (Sau) / Allah Jabek / 4
Abdullah Bin Waled Al-Sharbattli / Hugo Gesmeray / 0

8º Brazil / 17-265,26

Pedro Veniss (Bra) / Richmont Park / 0
Arthur Da Silva (Bra) / Retsina Z / E
Alvaro Miranda (Bra) / Ad Tijl / 8
Vitor Teixeira (Bra) / Pessoa / 9

9º Switzerland / 20-260,49

Theo Muff (Sui) / Con Spirito R / 4
Markus Fuchs (Sui) / La Toya III / 4
Fabio Crotta (Sui) / Horizon Du Roc / 12
Gregoire Oberson (Sui) / Jos de B’neville / 13

10º Italy / 20-262,33

Gianni Govoni (Ita) / Loro Piana Lasita / 12
Giorgio Nuti (Ita) / Jeff du Boele / 8
Giuseppe Rolli (Ita) / Jericho de la Vie / 0
Nathale Chiaudani (Ita) / Hariane d’Authieux / 16

11º Germany / 34

Franz Josef Dahlmann (Ale) / Pikeur Calanda / 16
Lutz Gripshöver (Ale) / Polyfee / 16
Tim Hoster (Ale) / Maddock / 8
Heinrich Hermann Engemann (Ale) / Aboyeur W / 10

12º Great Britain / 39

Michael Whitaker (Gbr) / Insul Tech Leonardo / 20
Helen Tredwell (Gbr) / Opportunity B / 4
Geoff Lucket (Gbr) / Pjort / E
Richard Davenport (Gbr) / Nelson Z / 15

13º Norway / E

Stian Ogland (Nor) / Corilino / E
Line Raaholt (Nor) / Royal Son Z / NP
Morten Djupvik (Nor) / Bessemeind’s Caloma Z / NP

13º Finland / E

Mikael Forsten (Fin) / Skybreaker / 20
Sebastian Numminen (Fin) / Sails Away / NP
Noora Pentti (Fin) / Evli Cagliostro / NP