Kevin Babington, who made his Irish team debut in Aachen just 12 months ago, gave Ireland the best possible start at the European show jumping championships in Arnhem, Holland, yesterday with a superb clear that left him eighth overall in the individual rankings and put the team in second place going into today's marathon team decider.

Babington was drawn as front runner for yesterday's speed round. But, far from being fazed, he produced a sensational performance from the 10-year-old Clover Hill gelding Carling King that held the lead for almost an hour.

Just four others followed suit but, with five seconds added for each mistake, Babington's time eventually left him eighth in the line-up, with his three teammates all slotting comfortably into the top 20, even though none managed to emulate Babington's clear. Just over five seconds adrift from the winning time set by Dutchman Wout Jan van der Schans, Babington was just 2.71 penalties off the pace in the overnight standings.

Dermott Lennon was next best of the Irish, although he - like the vast majority of the 59 starters - fell foul of the double of water ditches when a slightly angled approach with the brilliant Touchdown mare Liscalgot meant a rail off the first. Even with the addition of five seconds for that, the mare's speed meant she still finished the day in 11th place.