EQUESTRIAN:Ireland have made their first break into the 2007 Nations Cup winners' enclosure, scoring at the Austrian fixture in Linz yesterday, but there was no joy in Denmark, where the Irish team failed to make the cut for the second round in Copenhagen, despite Captain Shane Carey winning both the pre-Nations Cup speed classes, writes Grania Willis.

Ireland were in the lead at the break on just four faults in Linz, and double clears from Comdt Gerry O'Flynn and last man in Conor Swail kept Ireland out in front at the finish on a completion score of 12.

The quartet flying the flag in Copenhagen also finished on 12, but that was at the halfway stage and it wasn't quite enough to see them through to the second round with the top eight teams. It was a disappointing end to a day that had seen Capt Shane Carey claim two back-to-back wins in the early speed classes.