Nine nations took to the International Ring to challenge the 1.60m track designed by FEI Course Designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN).

All nine teams participated in the opening round before the field was narrowed to the top six teams based on their combined scores.

Round One

Daniel Coyle and Farrel were the pathfinders for Jessica Kurten’s team. The Derry rider and the 16-year-old gelding completed the course in a time of 69.38 seconds, but with four faults.

His brother, Jordan, was next into the arena, with Cordiamo. The combination had an uncharacteristic total of 16 faults, which became the Irish discard score in round one.

Conor Swail and Clonterm Obolensky had four faults, stopping the clock in 71.73 seconds.

Ireland’s only clear of the opening round was delivered by the anchor combination of Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and Vistogrand. This left the team with a total of 8 faults at the conclusion of the first round.

Round Two

Ireland, Britain, Germany, Belgium, the United States and France all produced scores needed to advance to the second round, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.

With the scores tightly packed at the top, Germany, Ireland and defending champions Great Britain entered the second round separated by only a narrow margin.

The powerful Germany lineup featured three members of the team that claimed victory at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen in August: Daniel Deusser, Sophie Hinners and Jörne Sprehe. The three all delivered faultless performances in the second round.

Only three of the Irish combinations took to the International Ring for the final round.

Daniel Coyle and Farrel improved on their opening effort as they went clear in 68.30 seconds.

Jordan Coyle and Cordiamo also improved on their first round score, this time having two rails down in a time of 71.42 seconds.

Conor Swail and Clonterm Obolensky were next to go for Ireland, and the combination went clear, only to have one time fault.

Ireland’s anchor combination of Denis Lynch and Vistogrand withdrew as their efforts would not have made any different to the result.

Germany took the title of a two-round score of 4 faults, with Ireland second on 17 faults. Belgium finished in third on 21 faults, ahead of the defending champions, Britain, in fourth place with 26 faults.

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With a total of 30 combinations taking on the Juilherme Jorge-designed 1.60m course in the 5* Kubota Grand Prix, the triple combination late in the track caused problems for a number of the competitors.

Colombia’s Ilan Bluman and Acajou set the standard when they produced the first clear round in 80.85 seconds. By midway in the class, they were the only combination qualified for the second round jump-off.

Shane Sweetnam and Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z were the next to leave every fence intact, with the Irish combination jumping clear, and stopping the clock in 78.66 seconds to force a jump-off.

American Kent Farrington and Descartes SR produced the third clear round, setting up a three-horse jump-off from the original field of 30 starters.

Jump-Off

Sweetnam and Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z stopped the clock in 39.08 seconds to take control of the class and put the pressure on Farrington.

With Farrington still to come as the final combination in the jump-off, Sweetnam knew there would be little room for error.

“It’s something I’m always trying to figure out, as I finish second to Kent a lot” recounted Sweetnam after winning the 5* competition.

The US rider returned with Toronto history on his side. A Grand Prix winner in Season 3, the World No. 2 entered the ring with a chance to add another title to his record.

Last to challenge Sweetnam’s time, Farrington and Descartes SR had the pace to take the lead, but the penultimate fence came down. Four faults left the pair in second, Farrington’s third consecutive runner-up finish in the Toronto Grand Prix.

Shane Sweetnam was delighted with Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z’s performance as he is still early in his 5* Grand Prix career.

“This is only his second 5* Grand Prix and the last one he did was in Monterrey (MLSJ Finals), which he was also clear in” said Sweetnam of his mount.

With Sweetnam and Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z securing the opening Grand Prix win of Season 6, the League will now move to Traverse City, Michigan, USA, for Leg 2, September 10- 12.

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The Derry rider had the advantage of going last in the jump-off. As the final entry in the opening round, Coyle stayed at the ingate to watch the first jump-off challenger, Canada’s Gavin Moylan, execute his plan with Lordy-P.

By the time four others had jumped, Moylan still held the lead with a clear round in a time of 39.94 seconds. Only Coyle remained with Nord Face VDL, and though he looked to be behind Moylan’s pace at the beginning, Coyle turned on the speed half-way through the short course, leaving out strides to cross through the timers in 38.55 seconds and claim victory.

“I knew I had to catch up”

“I was last to go so that’s always a huge advantage,” said Coyle, who represented Ireland at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. “I knew Gavin was winning and, having watched his round, I knew what I had to do to beat it. I knew half-way around the course that I wasn’t fast enough. My horse was jumping very high at the beginning of the course, but you don’t need to be that high over the jumps; it’s not fast to do it that way. I knew I had to catch up, and he’s got to learn to go fast!”

By turning on the afterburners, the pair were able to better Moylan’s time by over one full second. Moylan finished as runner-up riding Lordy-P, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion.

Four-time Olympic medallist for the United States, Beezie Madden, was also double clear in a time of 41.30 seconds to take third riding Nairobi, an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare, while Canada’s Seán Jobin riding Qourtois and Blyth Marano of the United States aboard Theo Duc T&L Z were also double-clear to finish fourth and fifth respectively.

“This horse is special”

Nord Face VDL, who is new to the international show jumping scene, is quickly forming a successful partnership with Coyle, who admitted:

“From the moment we tried him, we thought, ‘this horse is special’ (but) it was just a matter of whether we could contain it. He has so much blood, so much scope, and so much power. It seems strange to say but don’t need all that; you need to be clever and handy.

“He’s so talented but he’s a dinosaur,” continued Coyle. “I don’t know if I’ve ridden a bigger horse and I don’t know if I’ve ever ridden a more talented horse. Next year will be very telling.”

Swail wins three CSI4* Classes

Coyle wasn’t the only Irish rider to have a good week at the Ottawa International. Conor Swail scored a hat-trick by winning three of the four CSI4* classes on offer, all aboard Casturano, a 13-year-old Holsteiner geldin.

Swail also won Friday’s $31,000 USD CSI2* Qualifier after topping an 11-horse jump-off riding Nadal Hero & DB, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding.

$35,000 USD CSI2* Canada Gold Grand Prix

1. 1. Daniel Coyle / Ireland / Nord Face VDL / 0:0 / 38.55
   2. Gavin Moylan / Canada / Lordy-P / 0:0 / 39.94
   3. Beezie Madden / United States / Nairobi / 0:0 / 41.30

11. Conor Swail / Ireland / Nadal Hero & DB / 4

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With international riders from Ireland, Luxembourg, Israel, the US, and the home nation, Canada, competing, it was American Adrienne Sternlicht, riding, Faquitol-S, who won the class for the second year in-a-row.

Mckayla Langmeier of the US was first to return to the arena for the jump-off, but Isidore de Chalusse had two rails down in a time of 43.96 seconds, eventually placing them in fourth.

Conor Swail and Theo 160, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding, were next up, and though the combination were quick (42.03 seconds), they unfortunately had four faults at the final fence. The round would be good enough for third place on the podium, however.

The eventual winner, Sternlicht, was next to take on the course, and she and Faquitol-S went clear in 42.99 seconds.

Luxembourg’s Charlotte Bettendorf was the final rider remaining in the jump-off with her 10-year-old Selle Francais mare Good Girl DK. The combination were forced to settle for the runner-up spot, as their clear round in 43.25 seconds was slightly slower than Sternlicht’s.

Ireland’s Daniel Coyle, with Urville Z, had four faults in the first round, and that left them in tenth position overall.

1. Adrienne Sternlicht / United States / Faquitol-S / 0:0 / 42.99
2. Charlotte Bettendorf / Luxenberg / Good Girl DK / 0:0 / 43.25
3. Conor Swail / Ireland / Theo 160 / 0:4 / 42.03

10. Daniel Coyle / Ireland / Urville Z / 4

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It was an incredible result for Eristov, the 17-year-old grey gelding who has achieved so much success throughout the world, as the event was his final career class before retirement.

Easy Boy De Laubry Z and Proudley won the Puissance last year and were popular competitors as the British rider wore a Mayo jersey during most of the competition.

Round One

Nine combinations entered the Defender Puissance – seven from Ireland along with The Netherlands’ Zoi Snels and the defending champion, Rachel Proudley with Easy Boy De Laubry Z.

Waterford’s Paddy O’Connell and Quality Command were the only four faulters from the opening round.

Jump-Off Rounds 1 & 2

Derry rider Daniel Coyle and VDL Mourinho exited at the jump-off round 1 stage – where only the triple bar and the Wall had to be jumped – when failing to successfully clear the Wall at 1.95m (6′ 5″).

In jump-off round 2, the first to take on the Wall at 2.05m (6′ 9″) was Sligo’s Richard Howley aboard the Bolesworth Puissance victor, French Connection. The pair dislodged a brick from the top of the Wall, with the same happening to the Dutch competitor Zoi Snels with Jiminez Z.

Jordan Coyle and Eristov, next into the Laya Arena, became the first combination to clear the Wall at 2.05m (6′ 9″).

His fellow Irish rider Mikey Pender, riding Coblue PS, experienced the same fate as Richard Howley and Zoi Snels as they knocked part of the top line of the Wall.

Rachel Proudley and Easy Boy De Laubry Z ensured a third jump-off round when they went clear. They were followed by Andrew Hodgins from Sligo with Shanaclough Luichew, and then Longford’s Derek McCoppin and Explosief’s Legacy.

Jump-Off Rounds 3 & 4

For jump-off round 3, the Wall was increased to 2.15m with four combinations talking on the challenge.

Jordan Coyle and Eristov went clear, before Rachel Proudley and Easy Boy De Laurby Z followed them, to ensure there would be jump-off round four. Andrew Hodgins and Shanaclough Luichew were unable to clear the Wall at 2.15m, but were immediately followed into the arena by Derek McCoppin with Explosief’s Legacy, who became the third combination to go through to a final round.

The fourth jump-off round saw both Coyle and Proudley have four faults each, as they and their horses failed to clear the Wall at 2.22m (7′ 3″). Derek McCoppin and his partner, Explosief’s Legacy, had both the triple bar and the Wall down for eight fault.

As a result Coyle with Eristov and Proudley and Easy Boy De Laubry Z shared the win in the Defender Puissance for 2026.

Speaking after the class, Derry rider Jordan Coyle admitted:

“I actually feel disappointed. I think I let him down bigtime in the last round. I actually think he would have jumped it if I had done my job, but for him to retire like this is unbelievable. He is actually the horse that started everything for me. What he has given me has been unbelievable and for him to retire like this in incredible.”

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With 11 of the 12 combinations that qualified for the jump-off electing to return, the Coolmore Showjumping-owned bay gelding left all poles in place and delivered a jump-off clear round in 37.02 seconds.

Big names such as Richard Vogel and Kevin Staut were still to come, and though both had faster times, they each had a fence down with Phenyo Van Het Keysersbos and Ever De Turan respectively.

American Aga Khan-winning riders from Friday Natalie Dean and Laura Kraut took second and third with Pedro Van De Barlebuis and Una Mariposa respectively – both also delivering clears in the jump-off.

Richard Vogel & Chember 3 win RDS Stakes

The World Number 2-ranked rider Richard Vogel won the CSIO5* 1.45m RDS Stakes in the Laya Arena, the first International class in the Laya Arena on Saturday. The German rider and Chember 3 were clear in the fastest time of 59.33 seconds.

Commandant Geoff Curran and the Minister For Defence’s DHF Alliance, who had led for much of the class, took the runner-up spot, clear in 60.18 seconds.

The third place on the podium went to Kevin Staut from France, riding Fast de Denat, following their clear round in 60.42 seconds.

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Drawn first to jump of the eight teams competing in the opening round, Ireland came into today’s class as third favourites as per Equiratings.com – behind the number 1-ranked team, USA, and Germany.

Both Ireland and the USA produced three clears in the first round, with Cian O’Connor, making his 20th Aga Khan appearance, opting not to jump in the first round over the course designed by Tipperary man Alan Wade, the designer chosen for the course for the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 – the first Irishman to achieve the honour.

Three First Round Clears for Ireland

Thirty-one-year-old Daniel Coyle with Farrel gave Ireland the perfect start with a clear round. His brother, Jordan, riding Chaccolino matched him, before the third-line rider, Shane Sweetnam, aboard Coriaan Van Klapschuet Z also went clear. With three clears in the opening round it was decided that Cian O’Connor and Kentucky TN would not jump.

The USA team, which started the competition as favourites, also ended the first round on a score of zero. Interestingly, their anchor leg, Laura Kraut and Baloutinue decided, unlike the Irish anchor rider Cian O’Connor, to compete in the first round. The US combination had four faults, but with one score being discarded, they still ended round one with a clean sheet.

Britain, who have previously won the Aga Khan Trophy a record 27 times were third after the first round, having collected one time fault each from Robert and John Whitaker.

The Swiss had four faults, Germany and Belgium eight, last year’s winners, The Netherlands, were on a score of 10, while France brought up the rear with 17 faults.

Aga Khan Goes Down To The Wire

In the second round, Ireland jumped last of the eight teams, with the USA second-last to take on the 1.60m course.

Double clears came from the Derry brothers, Daniel and Jordan Coyle, aboard Farrel and Chaccolino respectively. Shane Sweetnam and Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z had one fence down for four faults, while Ireland’s anchor combination, Cian O’Connor and Kentucky TN, also knocked a pole in the final line of jumps, much to the disappointment of the excited and expectant home crowd in a packed Laya Arena.

Karl Cook and Paris Sellon also delivered double clears for the USA, before Natalie Dean and Mr Bombastic had four faults. Laura Kraut and Baloutinue, who had knocked part A of fence 10 in the opening round, made no mistake this time and delivered a clear to heap the pressure on Cian O’Connor the final rider to enter the arena.

Riding a fresh horse in Kentucky TN, who hadn’t jumped in the first round, the Irish combination knocked 10b leaving the USA as winners of the 100th anniversary edition of the Nations Cup of Ireland. The Number 1-ranked show jumping team won the Aga Khan Perpetual Trophy for a ninth time, their first success in the class since 2024.

Final Result

The final result saw Robert Ridland’s side finish on zero, ahead of Ireland on 4 faults. Switzerland took the third spot on the podium with a faster 8 faults than the Germans who were fourth.

Britain was fifth on 10 faults, Belgium on 12, The Netherlands finished with 19 faults, with the French, who certainly had an off day, last on a total of 37 faults.

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Arguably the sports most famous and prestigious prize is on offer, the Aga Khan Perpetual Trophy.

The Jessica Kurten-managed Irish team will be first to jump this afternoon as the home side bids to win the trophy for the first time since 2022.

The Irish side will comprise of Derry’s Daniel Coyle and Farrel, his brother Jordan, riding Chaccolino, Cork’s Shane Sweetnam partnering Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z, with Meath’s Cian O’Connor riding Kentucky TN.

Three of the riders on the Ireland team this afternoon are ranked in the top-25 in the showjumping world rankings. Shane Sweetnam is the highest ranked at number three. Daniel Coyle stands at number 20 in the rankings, five spots ahead of Cian O’Connor on 25.

The other teams competing in the Nations Cup competition today are Britain, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands, USA, Belgium and France.

The Parade of Teams will begin in the Laya Arena at 1.45pm.

The first round of the Nations Cup of Ireland will be from 3pm to 4.15pm, with the second round following immediately at 4.30pm. The winning side should be know shortly before 6pm this evening.

Equiraitings.com make Ireland third favourites to win this afternoon, giving them an 18% chance to add to their previous 24 Aga Khan Trophy wins. The Irish showjumping team has also achieved 12 podium finishes here at the RDS since 2010, more than any nation has achieved at any venue.

The U S are pre-competition favourites by Equiraitings.com. The Robert Ridland-managed team is rated with a 23% chance of victory, followed by Otto Becker’s Germany on 22%. The Americans last won the Nations Cup of Ireland in 2024, while the Germans last lifted the Aga Khan Perpetual Trophy in 2007.

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Riding King Kannan GP, who also won on the opening day, the Derry rider took victory in the Reynolds Logistics Speed Derby with a clear round in 83.46 seconds.

German Richard Vogel, with Chember 3, took the runner-up position, also producing a clear in 84.03 seconds.

Anthony Bourquard from Switzerland, riding Flanagan Semilly, were also clear in a time of 86.92 seconds.

Karl Cook & Foxy De La Roque win Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes

The Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes later in the afternoon went to American Karl Cook and Foxy De La Roque. The combination were clear in the opening round, before producing the fastest clear of 37.11 seconds in the jump-off.

Kevin Staut, the former World Number 1-ranked rider from France, was second aboard Ever De Turan, producing a clear in 38.43 in the jump-off round.

Former Ireland Chef D’Équipe, Rodrigo Pessoa from Brazil, completed an all-International podium, as Major Tom stopped the clock at 38.72 in round two, his second clear round of the class.

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There will be two International Competitions in the Laya Arena this afternoon: The Speed Derby, sponsored by Reynolds Logistics, which begins at 1.10pm, and the Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes at 3.30pm is the second international class in the Main Arena.

That's a wrap on Day 1 of the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show
From the ceremonial opening of the brand-new Laya Arena to world-class sport, it's been an unforgettable start to the week.

Bring on Day 2! #GallagherDublinHorseShow #RolexSeriesEquestrian pic.twitter.com/F5U2YC5joh

— Gallagher Dublin Horse Show (@DublinHorseShow) August 5, 2026

Ireland had a clean sweep of classes in Laya Arena yesterday as Jordan Coyle took victory in two classes.

The Derry rider claimed the Laya Arena Stakes with Cordiamo, while he followed up later in the afternoon when winning the Sport Ireland Classic aboard King Kannan GP – a class home combinations dominated, taking six of the top-seven places.

Francis Derwin and Parvato Aeg had opened the show with a win for Ireland in the Speed Stakes, sponsored by Heathman Farm.

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