Ireland came into the 2nd round of the Nations Cup in 5th place. Clear rounds by Shane Sweetnam on Spy Coast Farm's Chaqui Z and Cian O'Connor on Quidam's Cherie in Round 2 helped put Ireland on the podium with a 3rd place finish. United States was first and Canada was second. Congrats to all! Check out these stories:

http://www.horsesportireland.ie/ireland-battles-back-to-finish-third-in-florida-nations-cup/

http://www.worldofshowjumping.com/Nations-Cup-events/USA-wins-100-000-Nations-Cup-presented-by-Kingsland-Equestrian-at-the-2015-Winter-Equestrian-Festival.html

http://www.phelpssports.com/viewarticle.php?id=10013216

The Tomeu sisters had a great show this past week. Lindsey was Champion on Due West in the Adult Amateur Hunters 18-35 and Reserve Champion on her jumper Bonapart winning the Adult Jumper Classic 18-35. And Kaely Tomeu won a class on Fidalgo in the very competitive High Amateur Owner Jumpers.

And the Rogalny sisters had an awesome weekend too! Skylar rode Quiloa to 3rd out of 77 in the very very competitive Low Jr. Jumpers and was 3rd and 4th out of 69 in the other two Low Jr. Jumper classes. While sister Christina was 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th,and 5th on Mr. Magoo in the Small Green Pony Hunters.

Monika Preston was a class winner on Wagner Park. Lacey Gilbertson was a class winner on Easy Money in the High Amateur Owner Jumpers. Olivia Sweetnam continued to be a top ribbon winner in the Cross Rail Hunter division on both ponies this week – Strawberry Shortcake and Smartie Pants.   

The boys did a great job too…Shane was 12th on Bijzonder in the $127,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Rd VII and 5th on Cyklon in the 1.45 Speed Class.  Tom Was 6 out of 130 in the 1.30m class on Badal and 8 out of 83 in the same division. 

It wasn't just the luck of the Irish that won the team the $200,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup on Friday in Ocala with a near flawless effort...it was the skill of four great team members and four amazing horses. For Sweet Oak Farm's Lorcan Gallagher it was his first Nation's Cup. Riding Spy Coast Farm's Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve, Lorcan was a major factor in helping the team to the win. See below...

From Equnews...

Robert Splaine, Irish Chef d’Equipe: “The footing was great and the course designer did a great job. The second round was significantly harder, there is no doubt about that.

We have a lot of Irish riders based over here in the US, with great owners. I am always looking to broaden our base of riders so I come here quite often. It’s been a great competition today in a fantastic venue. These horses are unknown at this level, so if I can get 1 or 2 of them to come to Europe and jump in Division 1 that would be great. I would like to mention Lorcan (Gallagher) who did an absolutely fantastic job, he was the man of the match!

As Conor Swail said.. “On paper the US were very strong and the Canadians had their WEG team here, so this was a great result!”, the Irishman said afterwards. “It was my horse’s first Nations Cup and it was same for Kevin’s, and it was Lorcan’s first time to ride a Nations Cup while Darragh Kenny was on his speed horse!” he added.

Gallagher is relatively unknown in his native Ireland, but the 23-year-old from County Down, who had never before competed in a team at any level of the sport, has been based with Shane Sweetnam at Spy Coast Farm in Florida for the last few years. Sweetnam loaned him the horse for today’s competition, and he more than justified the faith placed in him by both the horse’s usual rider and Irish Chef d’Equipe, Robert Splaine. “I grew up watching Robert ride, and it’s a dream being here!” Gallagher said today.

Olivia Sweetnam continues her winning ways at WEF 5 Sponsored by Ariat in the Cross Rail Hunter division. Her 1st and 2nd place finish on Strawberry Shortcake earned her a second championship just a week after her first WEF championship. She is definitely following in her parent's footsteps!

Kaely Tomeu continues her winning ways as well. Last Week Kaely was on the winning team of the Artisan Grand Prix U25 and this week winner of the $15,000 SJHOF High A/O Classic on Fidalgo Van Het Leliehoff. There were over 66 other entries in the class; Kaely was .3 seconds faster faster in the jumpoff over Charlie Jacobs on Cassinja S who ended up second. 

Olivia Sweetnam. age 6, gets her first WEF Cooler on Strawberry Shortcake in the Cross Rail Hunter Younger division and top ribbons on Smartie Pants. Think she is following in her parents footsteps?! You go girl!

Lindsey Tomeu wins all THREE Adult Jumper classes. Two classes on Bonapart including the Classic with 73 entries and one on Cilke Quality SC. Bonapart was Champion in the Adult Jumper 18-35 and Cilke was Reserve. What a threesome! 

Monika Preston was a super superstar on Statement in the Low Adult Hunter Section A winning two classes, 2nd in two classes and capping it all off with a Championship in the division. How awesome.

Lacey Gilbertson won the $15,000 SJHOF High A/O Classic on Record De Pleville, with over 55 entries and was Reserve Champion in the High A/O division. Lacey was also on the winning Sweet Oak U25 Team. Way to go Lacey. 

Other top ribbon winners this week include Abbey Soffer on Lundback T Hastak in the Medium Junior Jumpers and on Showtime X1 in the Low Junior Jumpers. Christina Rogalny ribboned consistently in the Medium Pony Hunters on Webster. Sweet Oak takes 1st and 2nd in the Adult Jumper 18-35 Classic - Tracey Gorin-Byrne was 2nd on Olympic Lad right behind Lindsey out of the 73 entries. Claire Bakewell was 8th in the $10,000 Low AO Classic on Solo Des Forets. Brett Burlington on the winning U25 Artisan Farm Team competition was also 4th in the ASPCA Maclay and 3rd on Echo D in the Medium Jr. Jumpers.

The guys had shining moments too. -  Tom Foley also on the winning team was 5th on Carisma and 11th on Beluga in the $6,000 1.40 Speed Challenge out of 97 entries.