In the run-up to the FEI Nations Cup for the Aga Khan Trophy, there was a feeling that it would boil down to a shootout between Ireland and Switzerland, and that was how it transpired. Unlike last year, it wasn’t glory for Michael Blake’s The Underwriting Exchange Irish team and they had to settle for a creditable second place finish behind an impeccable Swiss performance. Drawn fifth to jump out of the eight teams, Ireland knew the task in hand, especially with their main rivals starting the competition with the advantage of being drawn last to go. The first Irish rider into the prestigious Royal Dublin Society Main Arena and making his Aga Khan Trophy debut was Galway’s Michael Duffy riding Cinca 3, owned by Hibernian Horses Ltd. Duffy got Ireland off to a strong start, a toe in the water-jump leaving him on four faults, but certainly a debut […]
