Longford owned horse stars for Ireland in Nations Cup in Canada
Clonterm Obolensky is owned by Longford’s Ollie Glancy Jnr
A Longford owned horse, Clonterm Obolensky, and his rider, Co Down's Conor Swail, starred as Ireland finished as runners-up in Saturday's five-star BMO Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows in Canada.
The Irish Show Jumping team also included Derry brothers Daniel and Jordan Coyle, and Tipperary's Denis Lynch.
Clonterm Obolensky is owned by Ollie Glancy Jnr.
Ireland were in third place on a score of 8 faults at the halfway stage, with Britain out in front ahead of a German team that included three members of their recent World Championship gold medal winning team in second.
Denis Lynch delivered Ireland's only clear of the first round with Vistogrand, while Daniel Coyle with Farrel and Conor Swail aboard Clonterm Obolensky (ISH) had four faults apiece, with Jordan Coyle the discard score aboard Cordiamo.
Daniel Coyle gave Ireland the perfect start to the second round when jumping clear with Farrel, before his older brother Jordan finished with 8 faults, while Conor Swail came home with just a time fault second time out with the Raymond Glancy-bred Clonterm Obolensky (ISH).
With Germany already confirmed as winners on a score of 4 faults, Denis Lynch decided not to jump in the second round as Ireland would finish as runners-up on a final score of 17 faults ahead of Belgium in third on 21.
Clonterm Obolensky was produced as a young horse by Ollie, who rode him at the RDS as a five-year-old in 2021 (finishing 7th in the Five Year Old class) and also at the World Young Horse Championships in Lanaken.
Soon after, Ollie, who is also well known through his involvement in the family business, Glancy Enviro, went into partnership with top Irish rider, Conor Swail. Based in the US, Swail and the horse rose rapidly to No 13 in the world.
Clonterm Obolensky has had an excellent season, including a double clear for Ireland in the Nations Cup at Thunderbird in Canada and another superb double clear in the five-star Nations Cup at Hickstead.
Meanwhile, Saturday's $340,000 Grand Prix at Traverse City, Michigan in the USA was dominated by Irish-bred horses, with particular Longford interest in the third placed horse - the Patrick Connolly-bred CSF James Kann Cruz (ISH) with Cork's Shane Sweetnam on board.
James Kann Cruz was reared in his earlier years by the Gannon sisters, Mary and Ann, from Whiterock, just outside Longford town.