Greg Broderick & MHS Going Global on course at the Nations Cup Final.
Ireland’s Greg Broderick saved the day on Thursday, September 22nd as the 2016 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final got underway in Barcelona, Spain. A whopping 18 nations qualified to contest Round 1 of the final, with only the top eight moving on to the second, championship Round 2 on Saturday evening.
The first three riders on the Irish team all picked up faults, leaving Ireland in a precarious position in the standings and piling the pressure onto Broderick and his mount MHS Going Global, who entered the arena as last to go for Ireland. Ireland was on 8 faults, as was Brazil. The two nations were tied for eighth place, and for Ireland to qualify for Round 2, Broderick not only needed to jump clear, he needed to jump fast.
With the Irish Sport Horse gelding (Quidam Junior I x Cavalier Royale) that he most recently competed in the $3 Million CP International Grand Prix in Calgary, Broderick did just that. Not only was he clear, he clocked the fastest time of the day in 73.71 seconds. Not a small achievement considering the 72-rider start list.
“I knew I had to be clear and fast so we did change the plan slightly. I was as tight as I could everywhere and I probably took out a stride on most of the turns,” Broderick commented to Horse Sport Ireland. “I took out a stride on each of the last two lines too, I’m just delighted for the whole team.”
Watch Broderick and MHS Going Global’s flawless Round 1, and then read the whole story here.