Great Britain’s equestrians put in a sparkling performance in Ireland this week to win the FEI Nations Cup in Dublin, securing the title in a jump-off with the host nation.
After the first round, three teams were in equal third place, but brilliant clear rounds from Nick Skelton, Michael Whitaker and Robert Smith moved the team up to be level with Ireland.
At the last, Nick Skelton faced the jump off for Britain against Ireland’s Billy Twomey, but Skelton’s fast clear was more than a match for Twomey and Tinka Serenade, who could only manage four faults.
"All Nations Cup wins feel good, but today was very special for me," said Skelton afterwards, "To have a jump-off with Ireland in their own country was very exciting and it was a good competition, which the public enjoyed. I didn't think we'd win, I thought we were too far behind after round one."
Scott Brash was Britain's fourth team member, riding Intertoy Z, and improving in his 12 faults in the first round to just four in the second.
The French team led after the first round but eventually finished third, level with Belgium.
The result puts Britain in the top league of the Nations Cup for 2012. Denmark finished last today and are sure to be relegated to the promotional league next year, while the USA, Belgium and France must fight it out to avoid the other relegation place at the final leg of the series in Rotterdam on 26 August.
It will be a welcome positive note for the team, which suffered a blow to its confidence at the beginning of the week, when team number 2 Michael Whitaker was forced to apologise to his team-mates after he withdrew from Hickstead, following a late-night disturbance at his hotel. The 51-year-old, will make a donation to charity by way of a general apology and was very much back on form in Dublin.
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