ON the eve of the vital Samsung Super League Nations Cup at La Baule, France, team member Cian O'Connor raised morale for the Irish with a definitive win the opening speed class today (Thursday) on his 10 yr-old bay mare <ABC Landliebe>, finishing almost two seconds ahead of French star Michel Hecart and <That's Life>.

La Baule is the first of eight Super League venues for 2004, and will be a nerve-wracking trial for O'Connor and his team-mates, as Ireland has not won at La Baule since 1994. But if Ireland is to remain in the premier league of world show jumping, a high placing at the French venue will be a valuable opener for the hectic season ahead.

Last year Ireland finished joint second in the Super League, and will be fighting to remain one of the eight teams to go through to the 2005 season.

The 1994 team who won at La Baule was Jessica Kurten, Eddie Macken, John Ledingham and Peter Charles.

Both Kurten and Charles are at La Baule for 2004, with Macken now as Team Trainer, and are joined on the panel by O'Connor, Marion Hughes and Kevin Babington. The final team for the Nations Cup will be confirmed by Chef d'Equipe Tommy Wade later today, but is likely to be Kurten, O'Connor, Babington and Charles.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO5* LA BAULE FRANCE 6-9 MAY 2004

PRIX PRESSE OCEAN
Table A Speed Class 1m40
Thursday, May 6, 2004

1) ABC LAND LIEBE; CIAN O'CONNOR (IRL) Faults 0.00 Time 64.59
2) THAT'S LIFE; MICHEL HECART (FRA) Faults 0.00 Time 66.67
3) HORIZON DU VALON; OLIVIER GUILLON (GBR) Faults 0.00 Time 67.57

49 starters

http://www.horsesport.ie

.