Picking up 80 Division I points for third in La Baule, while winning the Division II round in Drammen, Ireland’s Nations Cup squads were in superb form last weekend.

At Rodrigo Pessoa’s first Division I points-scoring outing as team manager his side of Denis Lynch, Shane Breen, Michael Duffy and Shane Sweetnam slotted in behind home winners France and Sweden to gain some very important league points. This was a very good result for the new team manager because, against very stiff opposition, the Irish were right in the hunt throughout. In the end just two fences denied them what would have been a stunning win.

Star of the Irish squad was Shane Breen, who drew on all his experience to deliver one of only five double clears on Golden Hawk. Young Michael Duffy and Belcanto Z just missed matching him by having a second round toe in the water, Denis Lynch had one down each time out with All Star. Time was a factor for Shane Sweetnam.

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On both occasions as he hurried toward the finish on Chaqui Z he was punished with a fence on the floor and a time fault. In the end Ireland finished on 14 faults. France were again operating with just three riders after Roger-Yves Bost took a crashing first round fall at the treble and did not return. But, despite this they fought back to push first round leaders Sweden into a jump-off after both sides finished on eight.

Former European Champion Kevin Staut opened for the home side with a beautifully paced clear in 35.74 seconds on Reveur de Hurtebise HDC. He had a rattle at the last but luck was with him. Peder Fredricson and Christain K looked set to do the time but the upright down beside the pond decided it. Ireland’s 80 points puts them in fifth place on the League Table as they head for Rome next week.

DRAMMEN

Michael Blake’s side of Captain Geoff Curran, Mark McAuley, Cameron Hanley and Alexander Butler came out ahead of 12 other squads in the Division II Norwegian Nations Cup at Drammen on Friday evening last.

At the end of two gruelling rounds it all came down to a pressure moment for the Army’s Captain Geoff Curran on the Irish-bred Ringwood Glen. They came up with a crunch four to have Ireland win by a single point ahead of Belgium.

McAuley scored five faults in the first round and a single time fault in round two on Ulchan De Belheme. Hanley did the opposite with a single time fault in the first round followed by five faults, second time out with Quirex.

But Waterford man Geoff Curran was star of the Irish side as he produced two vital fours to have the Irish come out in front. The final score was Ireland 20, Belgium 21, France 24.There was no Irish luck in the Longines Grand Prix events at either La Baule or Drammen.