The very first fence on Frank Rothenburger’s difficult World Cup course in the big Leipzig arena last Sunday was the undoing of both Irish contenders, Denis Lynch and Thomas Ryan. Ryan faced elimination there while Lynch had it down and then retired.

After a five-horse jump-off, the qualifier was won by Hans Deiter Dreher of the home side on Embassy II, by Escudo.

Lynch, who came second in the Leipzig Championship class on Abbervail van het Dingeshof, will join Billy Twomey, Jessica Kürten and Bertram Allen in Zurich this weekend where Allen will be bidding to pick up enough points to seal his qualification.

Meanwhile, there was a blow for Cameron Hanley just after Christmas when his owners decided to move four of his top rides to Pius Switzer of Switzerland. He still has one of his team horses, Living the Dream.