Invincible Irish Win League of Nations Opener

Ireland’s chef d’equipe Michael Blake led his team to victory in the opening leg of the Longines League of NationsTM 2025 series held in Abu Dhabi (UAE) this afternoon. His choice-blend of youth and experience proved a magic tonic as his four- man team of Denis Lynch (Vistogrand), Trevor Breen (Highland President), Jason Foley (Chedington Hazy Toulana) and Michael Pender (HHS Los Angeles) conjured up a flawless performance across seven rounds of Jumping to see Ireland take the honours in the opening leg of the 2025 edition of the Longines League of NationsTM in Abu Dhabi. They did this in convincing style, without a single fence falling to deliver a white wash victory and complete on a final score of zero faults.

The series is open to teams from the nine highest-ranked nations on the Longines Ranking List in 2024 as well as the reigning Longines League of NationsTM Final title holders. As winners of the 2024 Final and of the opening leg in Abu Dhabi last year, Germany were amongst the favourites to take victory here this afternoon. These ten nations were joined by the UAE, invited to compete in this leg of the series as host nation.

Determined to continue their rise amongst the highest ranked Jumping nations in the world, the UAE team, lead by Chef d’Equipe William Funnell, made their intentions clear from the outset as their pathfinder, 21-year-old Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi, the very first athlete to face the twelve fence challenge set by Santiago Varela (ESP) in round one, piloted his incredible mare Enjoy de la Mure to perfection and delivered the first clear round of the competition.

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When his team mates Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi (Chacolu), Humaid Abdulla Khalifa Al Muhairi (Foncetti vd Heffinck) followed suit after the third rotation of athletes, UAE had guaranteed themselves a first round score of zero faults and a place in the second round, open only to the top eight nations after the culmination of round one.

Varela’s course produced his customary balance of proving jumpable by the less experienced nations, whilst presenting challenges to the world’s best combinations throughout. His up to height track made use of a variety of fence materials, strategically placed with a number of distance options and turns to wide oxers tight off the arena edges. It was a track that required concentration of athletes throughout and tested balance and obedience of their equine partners. His time allowed was generous, bringing the focus on pure Jumping and highlighting his main aim of showcasing the abilities of these wonderful equine athletes to the world.

His line of the oxer at fence five to the open water at six and a curving related distance of six or seven strides to the double of verticals at fence 7a and b proved influential as did the final line of the Longines combination on a six-stride distance to the final fence, a 1.61m vertical crowned with a delicate white plank. Whilst these lines caused some of the most experienced athletes to fault, the fact that only one fence on his track, the vertical at fence one, didn’t fall, is testament to his course building genius.

Fourteen combinations produced faultless performances in round one with nine of those coming from athletes representing Ireland, UAE and France seeing all three nations finish the first round on zero.

Ireland’s final athlete, Longines League of NationsTM debutant Jason Foley, remarkably produced their fourth round without incurring a jumping fault. He finished with just two time faults aboard his new ride of just a few weeks, Chedington Hazy Toulana at their first show together, demonstrating not only the strength and depth of the Irish talent base, but also the ultimate faith that Michael Blake has in his athletes and the immense confidence and belief he instils in them.

Great Britain, Italy, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland made up the final eight teams qualified to contest round two over an identical track.

Starting again in reverse order of qualification after round one, athletes from Ireland, UAE and France were the last three nations to compete in the second round team rotations, with France last to go due to posting the fastest combined time of their athletes in round one.

A twist in the traditional Nations Cup format sees only three athletes from each of the eight nations come back to contest round two in the Longines League of NationsTM. This creates an added element of pressure as every score counts and doesn’t allow the luxury of a drop score.

In eighth and seventh place respectively, Switzerland and Germany put pressure on the leaders when their first two athletes produced clear rounds in round two, Sophie Hinners (GER) producing the first double clear of the competition. But when neither of their final leg athletes could replicate these scores, they relinquished their podium prospects. The chances of Belgium and Great Britain slipped further out of reach despite a clear from Jos Verlooy (BEL) and a double clear from Donald Whitaker (GBR) as two of their three athletes coming forward to round two faulted.

Italy came back from an uncharacteristic second round mistake incurred by pathfinder Giulia Martinengo Marquet who had been faultless in round one as the usually dependable Emanuele Camilli and Odense Odeveld resumed normal service second time round to provide a zero score in round two after a disappointing eight fault opener. The experience of Piergiorgio Bucci shone through as he posted a double clear for Italy with Hantano to see them finish in fifth place.

The battle for the podium positions remained between Ireland, UAE and France. Denis Lynch showed his team mates the way as he guided Vistogrand to a second flawless performance, maintaining their zero score. Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi picked up eight faults second time around, opening the door for France and Ireland. Simon Delestre delivered another clear round to see them neck and neck in the race for the title with two athlete rotations remaining.

Back from a career threatening injury sustained just nine months ago, Trevor Breen rode a second foot perfect round to pile the pressure on France to match their still faultless performance. UAE fought back as Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi produced his second clear of the competition, putting his team right back in the reckoning. Under the new format the pressure was on the remaining athletes and Jeanne Sadran, faultless in round one for France, never found her rhythm around the track second time round, accruing an unexpected 12 faults for France dropping them below UAE with one athlete rotation remaining.

Ireland’s anchorman Michael Pender knew that he could afford a fence down and still seal victory for his team, but two fences down would see them in a jump-off. However, no such cushion was required as the 25-year-old rider rode with a confidence and nerve that belied his years as he expertly guided HHS Los Angeles to produce the third double clear for Ireland and complete an unprecedented white wash victory in which they completed seven rounds without incurring a jumping fault.

With the winners decided, the final podium positions came down to the final two riders of the competition. With UAE sitting in second position on eight faults, they couldn’t afford a fence down from their anchorman. Abdullah Mohd Al Marri, having posted an unfortunate four faults in round one which was the drop score on that occasion, knew that only a clear round would do this time and he delivered exactly that under immense pressure in front of his home crowd to seal an incredible second place finish for the UAE.

Kevin Staut (FRA) set out as the final athlete of the competition. Knowing that first and second place were unattainable at this stage, France were fighting for third place and only a clear would secure this for them. His experience was visible as he expertly guided his long term partner Visconti du Telman around the track without fault for the second time to give the pre- competition favourites some consolation with a third place finish.

The Irish were understandably delighted with the result and Michael Blake was full of praise for his team. “It’s incredible, winning on zero is hard to do. Were a small nation, we’re really punching above our weight! We were resilient today. I’m so proud of my boys. They jumped seven rounds today without a fence down. The Nations Cup’s mean so much to Ireland so this really means everything.”

He also expressed his gratitude to Denis Lynch for imparting his knowledge and experience upon his less experienced team members and “always taking them under his wing”.

It was a fairy tale comeback for Trevor Breen who sustained a career threatening injury just nine months ago when fracturing three vertebrae in his neck and back after a fall in the Hamburg Grand Prix. For a period, he was told he would never ride again, but following a successful operation, the outlook became a little brighter day by day. He credits the support of his family, friends and team around him as well as following expert medical advice to the letter for his astonishing recovery and return to the very highest level of competition. To produce a double clear under these circumstances is fairy tale material, and to do it on a homebred horse, is simply the icing on the cake!

Having been the anchor leg for Ireland last year when they finished in second after a fault in his final round, Michael Pender was relieved to have put that ghost to rest this time. Like all of his team mates his was full of praise for his hires HHS Los Angeles. “She’s a very good horse, she’s taken a bit more time than we’d hoped (to get to this level) but I’m very lucky to ride her. She jumped amazingly today”

Michael Blake’s faith in Jason Foley was evident, selecting him on a horse that he’d only had the ride on for a few weeks and at their first show together. “Even people back home thought I was mad!” Blake joked, “But Jason is an incredible jockey, he’s been placed in every nations cup team I’ve put him on and he always jumps clear rounds” he justified happily.

Jason said that it was a dream start to his first 5* Nations Cup. “I’m delighted to have formed a great partnership already with the mare and so grateful to Michael for putting his neck on the line for me!”

“We came here as underdogs but we came with a plan” concluded Denis Lynch who was delighted with Vistogrand and the incredible record he has maintained today, jumping clear at every Nations Cup he has been selected for’.

They may be small in population, but the tiny Emerlad Isle have justified their current ranking as the best team in the World and as powerhouses of the sport of Jumping.

Their performance was summed up perfectly by an impressed Santiago Verela. “Three clears and three clears is game over, that’s the way to win a Nations Cup!”

After the first leg of the Longines League of Nations™ 2025, Ireland head the leaderboard on 100 points ahead of France in second on 90 points and reigning champions Germany in third on 80 points.

The series moves across the Atlantic next month as Ocala (USA) hosts the second leg of the Longines League of NationsTM 2025 on 22 March.

Full results here.