Latest news with #AgaKhanTrophy
Irish Times
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Netherlands win Aga Khan as Ireland finish third in Nations Cup
Ireland have finished third in the home Nations Cup for the award of the Aga Khan Trophy. Michael Blake's men made it three podiums on the spin at the RDS since their win in 2022, a total of four faults placing the team third behind winner the Netherlands and Germany. They were just pipped for second on time after Ireland and Germany both only had one pole down across their scoring rounds, and it all came down to whether Harrie Smolders and Isis could keep their cool and deliver a flawless final round to give the orange jackets the win. Tom Wachman and Seamus Hughes Kennedy showed coolness beyond their tender years with double clears each, while Cian O'Connor and Denis Lynch kept the ship steady - the Irish just falling short at the death. READ MORE Blake said: 'We tried really, really hard and the lads were phenomenal. Seamus and Tom having double clears on their Aga Khan debut shows just how good they are. 'We were up against very strong teams out there. You look at the strength of the Germans, who we were level with on four faults, and it was an extremely good American team who finished behind us - that makes the result that bit better, even though we're disappointed not to win. 'You would have to be pleased, we're creating depth that a lot of other nations don't have, and eventually depth is going to pay off. 'If you look at it, zero is what is needed to win five-star Nations Cups - that's how we won our two earlier this year and that's what won here today. We made very few mistakes today but it was the mistakes that cost us. Nonetheless, I'm very proud.' Ireland's Seamus Hughes Kennedy. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho Lynch and Vistogrand, Ireland's pathfinders, were first in for Blake's side and came home with four faults, the best score of those who had jumped at that point, with a foot in the water doing the damage. That just meant there was the slightest hint of urgency for Wachman and Tabasco De Toxandria Z after Aaron Vale and Styles had jumped clear for the defending champions the United States. Following final instructions from his coach and teammate O'Connor, Wachman, on his Aga Khan debut, was ice cool and delivered a perfect round of jumping for Ireland's first clear of the afternoon. Nerveless and fearless Seamus Hughes Kennedy kept the Irish right in the thick of things as Ireland's third combination, delivering another clear for Blake's team. After his round, Hughes Kennedy said: 'Obviously that was great. Having seen Tom going clear before me and Denis being unlucky with a foot in the water I knew that I needed a clear to keep our score low. 'Rocky jumped brilliant, it's an excellent course made by Alan Wade in a big grass ring. To say I've jumped clear in an Aga Khan is great but now I want a double clear. 'Everything went to plan, it rode the way the we planned and there were no major surprises. Fingers crossed for the same again next time.' O'Connor and Bentley De Sury, as Ireland's anchors, knew a clear would have Ireland on a perfect score at the break but one pole down didn't add to the total and there was precious little in it after round one. With Ireland in fourth position at the break, Lynch and Vistogrand returned to the fray and, as they did in their first foray, came home with a four-fault score. There was no immediate damage as both first-line combinations for USA and the Netherlands had eight faults each, with the door still open for the home side. The young guns, Wachman and Hughes Kennedy, stole the show and sent the RDS into raptures with a pair of double clear rounds as Ireland remained just a pole behind leaders the Netherlands with the anchors to come - high stakes, especially with the Dutch clinging onto a discard eight from pathfinder Frank Schuttert and Isis. O'Connor had no option if Ireland were to stay in the competition with any chance of a jump-off - clear or bust - and the Meathman delivered. His flawless round guaranteed a podium for Ireland but a pole down was needed from the Dutch to force a jump-off. There was no mistake from Harrie Smolders and Mr Tac as they jumped double clear to finish on a zero score to take the Aga Khan Trophy back to the Netherlands.
The 42
08-08-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Ireland finish third as Netherlands claim Aga Khan Trophy
IRELAND FINISHED third as the Netherlands claimed the Aga Khan Trophy in the 2025 Dublin Horse Show at the RDS. It was a third podium in succession for Michael Blake's men since winning the event in 2022, as the quartet of Frank Schuttert, Kevin Jochem, William Greve, and Harrie Smolders triumphed. A total of four faults meant the home team finished third behind the Dutch, who were the only team to finish on a zero score, and runners-up Germany, who had produced the same score as Ireland but in a faster time. Advertisement The Irish team narrowly missed out on second place as both they and the Germans only had one pole down across their scoring rounds. In the event's climax, Harrie Smolders and Isis could keep their cool to complete a flawless final round and hand the Dutch victory. Youngsters Tom Wachman and Seamus Hughes Kennedy, 20 and 23 respectively, both impressed with double clears each, while more experienced pair Cian O'Connor and Denis Lynch kept the ship steady for the Irish. Defending champions USA had to settle for fourth, with Great Britain in fifth, Canada in sixth, Mexico in seventh and Switzerland in eighth place. 'We tried really, really hard, and the lads were phenomenal. Seamus and Tom having double clears on their Aga Khan debut shows just how good they are,' Blake said afterwards. 'We were up against very strong teams out there. You look at the strength of the Germans, who we were level with on four faults, and it was an extremely good American team who finished behind us – that makes the result that bit better, even though we're disappointed not to win. 'You would have to be pleased, we're creating depth that a lot of other nations don't have, and eventually, depth is going to pay off. 'If you look at it, zero is what is needed to win five-star Nations Cups — that's how we won our two earlier this year, and that's what won here today. We made very few mistakes today, but it was the mistakes that cost us. Nonetheless, I'm very proud.' The Dublin Horse Show continues on Saturday with the Defender Puissance taking centre stage, before the action culminates with Sunday's Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland.
RTÉ News
08-08-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Netherlands win Aga Khan Trophy as Ireland finish third
Ireland finished in third place in the Nations Cup Of Ireland at the Dublin Horse Show as the Netherlands lifted the Aga Khan Trophy. The Dutch were the only team to finish on a zero score after a superb display by their quartet of Frank Schuttert, Kevin Jochem, William Greve and Harrie Smolders. Anchor rider Smolders was under huge pressure when entering the arena at the RDS as last to go, as he knew a fence down would mean a three-way jump-off between Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany. Smolders kept his cool and delivered the all-important clear as his nation won the Aga Khan for the first time since 2010. Tom Wachman and Tabasco De Toxandria Z record a superb double-clear round for Ireland in the race for the Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse Show — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 8, 2025 Ireland's display featured superb double-clear performances from 20-year-old Tom Wachman on Tabasco De Toxandria Z and 23-year-old Seamus Hughes Kennedy on ESI Rocky. Cian O'Connor had four faults in the first round on Bently De Sury before jumping clear second time out. Denis Lynch and Vistogrant had four faults in each round, with Ireland finishing on a final score of four faults. Germany finished as runners-up on the same four-fault score as Ireland, but in a faster time. The USA, who came into the competition as defending champions, had been in a share of the lead at the halfway stage but had to settle for fourth place ahead of Great Britain in fifth, Canada in sixth, Mexico in seventh and Switzerland in eighth place. The Dublin Horse Show continues on Saturday, with the Defender Puissance taking centre stage, before the action comes to a close following Sunday's Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland.
