Meanwhile, the Irish Nations’ Cup team of Sarah Ennis on Horseware Stellor Rebound (ISH), Joseph Murphy with Westwinds Hercules (ISH), Sam Watson on Horseware Lukeswell (ISH)(TIH) and Aoife Clark partnering Arco BB with a final score of 159.3 narrowly failed to overtake the leading British team today, but forced France into third. The British foursome ended on 143.4, while Ireland finished with 152.3. France had 159.3 at the end of play.

Sarah Ennis and Horseware Stellor Rebound (ISH) took overall second place individually, with Britain’s Emilie Chandler and Gino Royale just 2.6 penalties ahead in first.

The CCI2* saw Ciaran Glynn in fourth place with Gee Que (ISH), with Britain’s Oliver Townend claiming first on Mr Hiho, while the CCI1* had Conor Maguire and Derroon Wood (ISH)(TIH) in fourth, and Kerri Lyons on Olympic Cool (ISH) finishing in sixth.

(left to right) Great Britain’s team manager Philip Surl with his winning team of Nicky Roncoroni, Lucy Wiegersma, Rosalind Canter and Izzy Taylor after their victory at the second leg of FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing 2014, held at Ballindenisk (IRL) for the first time in the history of this series. (Photo: EquusPix/FEI)

Great Britain, winners of last year’s FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing, scored a close victory over France in the second leg of the 2014 series, which was held for the first time at Ballindenisk (IRL) last weekend.

The French, successful on home ground last month at Fontainebleau, made the long trip across the Channel in the hope of maintaining their lead in the FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing.

They were welcome visitors at Ballindenisk, where they were enthusiastic about Course Designer Peter Fell’s galloping course on grass, an interesting contrast to the twisting, forested sandy tracks of Fontainebleau.

France still holds the top position on the leaderboard, by just one point from Britain, but, having led after Dressage and Jumping at Ballindenisk, they lost the chance to widen the gap when Maxime Livio and Pica D’Or had a Cross Country refusal at the penultimate fence, a double of banks across the avenue, and incurred several time penalties.

Britain, second after the first two phases, was the only team to have four Cross Country clear rounds. Izzy Taylor finished in eventual individual runner-up spot on Allercombe Ellie (behind Britain’s Oliver Townend, who was not on the team) and squad newcomer Rosalind Canter was fifth on Zenshera.

The home team, Ireland, fielded a strong side but their chances of improving on third position evaporated when Sam Watson and Horseware Bushman were sadly eliminated after a fall at fence 6, an open ditch and brush, on the Cross Country.

Reflecting on the British win, team manager Philip Surl commented: “Today went right to the wire – the last team rider at the second to last fence, which meant we were able to claim the lead at the very last minute.”

He added: “Our Dressage scores were pleasing, but the French had the edge. However, Izzy was a total pro – she’s very much a team stalwart – and Ros [Canter] made a very pleasing debut. Lucy [Wiegersma] put up a strong performance and Nicky’s young horse, by far the least inexperienced of the four, was great across country. It was a great start to the season.”

This was the first time an FEI Nations Cup™ leg had been held at the popular County Cork venue, which is celebrating 40 years of Eventing. The third leg in the series takes place on British soil at Houghton Hall on 22-25 May.

Results from Ballindenisk

1 Great Britain, 138.4

Izzy Taylor/Allercombe Ellie, 41.5; Rosalind Canter/Zenshera, 45.7; Lucy Wiegersma/Mr Chunky, 51.2 (Nicky Roncoroni/Stonedge 63.4)

2 France, 141.9

Geoffrey Soullez/Madiran Du Liot, 43.0; Pascal Leroy/Minos de Petra, 43.2; Thibaut Vallette Cne/Qing Du Briot Ene HN, 55.7 (Maxime Livio/Pica D’Or, 67.6)

3 Ireland, 155.7

Sarah Ennis/Sugar Brown Babe, 47.5; Joseph Murphy/Electric Cruise, 54.0; Camilla Speirs/Portersize Just A Jiff, 54.2 (Sam Watson/Horseware Bushman, EL Cross Country)

In the video below, Mike commentates on Hugh Ryans CrossCountry Round in the CIC* at Ballindenisk April 2014 riding Garrydruig Cruisader.

The series has nine legs all over Europe, starting in Fontainebleau in France from March 19th to 23rd and finishing in Boekelo in the Netherlands from October 9th to 12th.

Peter Fell of Ballindenisk said today (Thursday): “Ballindenisk is delighted to be chosen to be part of the FEI Nations Cup Eventing series for 2014. This is a great opportunity to have a leg in Ireland and for our riders to compete on home soil. ”

Horse Sport Ireland’s Eventing High Performance Manager Nick Turner welcomed the addition of an Irish leg to the series.

“The Nations Cup series is something we will be focusing more on this year as a way of developing combinations and the Irish team. We hope to have a strong team at the first round in France and it is great to have the second round in Ireland,” he said.

IRISH rider Joseph Murphy this evening (Sunday) claimed outright victory in the main CCI three star class at Ballindenisk’s International Horse Trials in Co. Cork, after going clear in both cross country yesterday and show jumping today aboard his own Ricardo Z Irish Sport Horse gelding Sportsfield Othello.

The Mullingar-born eventer held his dressage score of 50.8, with his nearest challenger, Britain’s Izzy Taylor and Thistledown Poposki, finishing on a penalty score of 53.2.

British star Oliver Townend, who was bidding for the Goresbridge Go For Gold €50,000 bonus on the Master Imp Irish Sport Horse Imperial Master saw his hopes dashed on the cross country phase in Cork yesterday after being forced to retire.

Carlow’s Sam Watson won the CCI two-star class with the Puissance-sired Irish Sport Horse gelding Imperial Sky, while Meath-based Sarah Ennis took the CCI1* trophy on the Irish Sport Horse Shanbo Queen B.

Britain’s Pippa Funnell was first in the CIC3* with the Irish-bred Second Supreme, with Kildare’s Camilla Speirs making a welcome return on the Irish Sport Horse Portersize Just A Jiff to win the CIC2*.

At Gatcombe Park in England, meanwhile, Ireland’s Austin O’Connor was runner-up in the CIC2* on the Irish Sport Horse Kilpatrick Knight, while Naas-born Aoife Clark and Europop took fourth place in the CIC1* event.

Speaking ahead of the event Mike Ryan said: “DoneganRyan Eventing has a huge on-line audience across the world and I wanted to make the most of this to promote Irish eventing via this powerful media channel. In Ireland we have great horses, riders and events and I feel that Ballindenisk is an excellent opportunity to showcase what Ireland has to offer. This is the first time for eventing to be live streamed in Ireland and hopefully it will serve to show what we have to offer as a nation. This will be our first attempt at such a project but we are confident that that Webcast Ireland who also live-streamed the International Mounted Games will provide and excellent service and it will basis for future projects”.