The United States show jumping team claimed victory in the 100th anniversary edition of the Nations Cup of Ireland, capturing the prestigious Aga Khan Perpetual Trophy at the RDS on Friday evening as host nation Ireland finished as runners-up. Robert Ridland’s American squad finished the historic competition with a clean sheet of zero faults, edging out an Irish side that finished on four faults at a packed Laya Arena in Dublin.
Drawn first to jump among the eight competing nations in the opening round, Ireland entered the landmark class as third favourites according to Equiratings.com, positioned behind the top-ranked United States and Germany. The opening phase of the competition unfolded over a challenging 1.60m course designed by Tipperary native Alan Wade, who holds the distinction of being the first Irish course designer chosen for an upcoming Olympic Games, having been selected for the Los Angeles 2028 course.
Both Ireland and the United States delivered three clear rounds during the initial phase. Thirty-one-year-old Daniel Coyle set the tone for the hosts by steering Farrel to a flawless opening round. His brother, Jordan Coyle, quickly matched that performance aboard Chaccolino, before the third-line rider Shane Sweetnam secured a third clear with Coriaan Van Klapschuet Z. Because the first three Irish combinations delivered faultless rounds, anchor rider Cian O’Connor opted not to jump his horse, Kentucky TN, in the opening rotation.
Meanwhile, the United States squad, entering the centenary event as pre-competition favourites, also finished the first round on a team score of zero. Unlike the Irish strategy, the American anchor combination of Laura Kraut and Baloutinue chose to contest the first round. Although the US pair picked up four faults, the competition format allowed one score to be dropped, preserving a clean sheet for the visitors heading into the decisive second round.
Aga Khan Trophy Down to the Wire in Dublin
As the competition progressed to the second round, Ireland jumped last among the eight finalist teams, while the United States entered the ring second-last. The Derry brothers, Daniel and Jordan Coyle, maintained their exceptional form by posting double clears aboard Farrel and Chaccolino respectively. However, pressure mounted when Shane Sweetnam and Coriaan Van Klapschuet Z knocked down a single fence, incurring four faults for the home team.
The final outcome hinged on the closing moments of the class as Ireland’s anchor partnership, Cian O’Connor and Kentucky TN, took on the course. Earlier in the rotation, American riders Karl Cook and Paris Sellon delivered crucial double clears, while teammate Natalie Dean incurred four faults with Mr Bombastic. Laura Kraut and Baloutinue bounced back from a first-round rail at fence 10 to jump clear, placing maximum pressure on O’Connor as the final competitor of the evening.
Riding a fresh horse in Kentucky TN that had been rested during the first round, O’Connor navigated the course expertly until the final line, where the combination unfortunately rubbed fence 10b. That single knockdown left Ireland on a total of four faults and handed the United States the historic victory.
Final Standings at the RDS Centenary Event
The final team standings saw Robert Ridland’s American side secure the Aga Khan Perpetual Trophy for the ninth time in the nation’s history, marking their first triumph in the historic class since 2024. Switzerland claimed the third step on the podium after finishing with eight faults in a faster aggregate time than fourth-placed Germany, which also finished on eight faults.
Britain, historical record-holders with 27 previous victories in the Aga Khan competition, finished fifth with ten faults after collecting single time faults in the opening round from both Robert and John Whitaker. Belgium took sixth place with 12 faults, reigning champions The Netherlands finished seventh on 19 faults, and France rounded out the eight-team field in eighth position with 37 faults.
The event marks a major milestone in international equestrian sport, celebrating a century of elite team show jumping for the Aga Khan Trophy at the historic RDS venue. Fans and stakeholders now look ahead to the remaining international autumn circuit fixtures and preparations for the upcoming 2025 FEI Nations Cup season.
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