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[Bodlja]

In very difficult ground conditions at Zagreb, Croatia on Friday the Irish show jumping squad claimed second place to France in the Croatian Nations' Cup, and added three more points to their FEI Nations' Cup league tally.

With 41 faults on the board at the end of the competition, Ireland still beat Germany and Switzerland, who took equal third on 42 faults, while Austria was in fifth place with 52 faults. A total of 12 nations competed.

Afterwards, Irish Team Manager Robert Splaine said: "The ground conditions were a huge factor here. We had a storm last night and one today, and two of our horses pulled shoes in the first round. The score sheet gives some indication of just how difficult it was for all the teams involved. But I'm happy that we have added three vital points to our overall Nations' Cup League score."

First man in for Ireland, Edward Doyle, went clear in the first round but had two fences down in the second with Utopia Vi'T Hoogveld, while Thomas Ryan and Urleven van de Helle followed with four and then eight faults. Niall Talbot and Tequi D'I CH had five faults in the first round and did not jump in the second. Last of the Irish squad to jump, Denis Lynch and Upsilon D'Ocquier, accounted for a total of 24 faults, with two fences down in the first round, and four in the second.

Ireland claimed 11 FEI points for their runner-up spot, but had to drop eight points under the "best of seven competitions" rule, giving a net gain of three points for a new total of 86 points. Second-placed Denmark remain at 72 points, as does third-placed Italy, who did not add to their overall tally at Zagreb.

If Ireland remain at the top of the FEI Nations' Cup League at the end of the season, they will replace France in the elite eight-nation Samsung Super League for 2008.