A strong performance which included six clear rounds from the Michael Blake-managed Irish Show Jumping team of Shane Sweetnam, Bertram Allen, Michael Duffy and Cian O’Connor, saw them finish as runners-up in the $150,000 four-star Nations Cup at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, which concluded in the early hours of this morning (Saturday). It was an emotional evening for the Irish team who had been wearing black armbands in memory of well-known Irish trainer, breeder and owner of several top horses, Deirdre Bourns from Co Galway, who passed away earlier this week. Cork’s Shane Sweetnam got Ireland off to a perfect start in round one with a clear aboard Karlin Van’t Vennehof, owned by Seabrook LLC and that set the tone for what would be an outstanding first round for Michael Blake’s team. A second clear followed for Wexford’s Bertram Allen with The Irish Sport Horse Castlefield Vegas, owned […]
