British team emerge victorious with Aga Khan trophy after nail-biting finale
THERE WAS high drama at the Dublin Horse Show when the Nations Cup came down to a sudden-death jump-off between Ireland and our nearest neighbour, whom we are no longer allowed to call “the Old Enemy” since the royal visit earlier this year.
After almost three hours of jumping when Ireland stayed resolutely at the top or near the top of the leaderboard with France and Britain, a mistake by French rider Michel Robert left Ireland and Britain staring at one another once again.
The British picked their best man, Nick Skelton, on a beautiful grey, Carlo 273, and we sent Billy Twomey from Cork to bat for us.
Skelton had a flawless round before Twomey sent the second fence clattering, handing the Aga Khan trophy to Britain.
It was unkindly suggested that nothing had gone right in Cork sport since the visit of Queen Elizabeth II who, you will remember, got a wonderfully warm reception in the city.
Right enough, we saw Mayo humiliate the Rebels’ football team – the reigning All-Ireland champions – last weekend. And their hurlers . . . well, enough has been said about that.
And yesterday we had Twomey, who had the good grace to confess after his performance that he felt “he had let everyone down” and said he was a “bit gutted by what had happened”.
He told a press conference after the event it had been difficult going into the ring for the second time, and he was gracious about Skelton’s ability as a top-class rider.
He was not half as gutted as the huge crowd that had turned up for the competition, which was very exciting and went on for more than three hours in the main show ring at the grounds.
The cheering got louder as Ireland looked as if they could win the event in front of President Mary McAleese, who was attending the event for the last time in her official capacity.
As the jump-off came closer, people abandoned the trade stands and bars and crowded into the arena to witness what would have been a welcome boost for the national ego.
It has to be said the British team were given a warm reception by the crowd, who applauded as they made their triumphant lap of honour of the parade ring.
It is the 25th time they have won the competition.
The loss was taken on the chin by the Irish but some of the children around the ring were upset and I saw one or two youngsters crying.
Despite the result, the whole competition was a major spectacle with Army and Aer Corps bands, and the course looked superb.
There was also a new gem in our midst yesterday: Nicola Fitzgibbon, the 24-year-old TCD graduate who performed like a veteran and surely will be around the showjumping scene for many years to come at the highest level.
Top hat and tails was the order of the day for many of the invited guests and two other Corkmen made a splendid show.
Joe Walsh, the former minister for agriculture who is now chairman of Horse Sport Ireland, walked the grounds with Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney also resplendent in tails and top hats.
Not long after they took their seats, another former agriculture minister Mary Coughlan arrived with her children. She said she was quite enjoying her break from politics and was back in training, running every day.
The show continues today and tomorrow.