AN IRISH squad weakened by equine injuries managed only an eighth place in the Samsung Super League Final in Barcelona today (Sunday) but the shake-out of double points and some surprising results means that Ireland clung on to their second place in the Super league rankings, though now share it with Germany, who fielded an elite team, and won today's Nations Cup competition.

France held onto their Super League spot at the top of the league, though finishing ninth today, while Italy put in a strong performance to come home in joint third behind home team Spain, who are not part of the Super league rankings.

And despite finishing joint fifth at Barcelona, Sweden ended at the bottom of the Super League, and will now be relegated to the <ordinary> Nations Cup league next year.

Lt. Shane Carey scored Ireland's only clear round on <Killossery> after a four-faulter first time out, while Cian O'Connor was next best, riding <Waterford Crystal> with just one pole down in each round. Nations Cup debutante Marie Burke put in a creditable performance with <Chippison>, taking down two fences in each round, and Harry Marshall remedied his first round discard score of 12 faults with just a single pole down second time out.

No-one, though, could touch the German team, who arrived in Barcelona determined to improve on their fifth place ranking after Rotterdam, and did so by racking up an unbeatable run of four double clear rounds.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO*****BARCELONA SPAIN SEPTEMBER 18 - 21, 2003

Class No.12 Nations Cup - Final Samsung Super League
LARGE TOUR NATIONS CUP - SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE. Table: 2 rounds, both
not against the clock. Art. 264.
Sunday, September 21, 2003

1) GERMANY 0 Faults
2) SPAIN 8 Faults
=3) ITALY 12 Faults
=3) BELGIUM 12 Faults
=5) SWEDEN 16 Faults
=5) Gt. BRITAIN 16 Faults
7) NETHERLANDS 20 Faults
8) IRELAND 24 Faults
SPLENDIDO; HARRY MARSHALL Faults 12.00 /4.00
CHIPPISON; MARIE BURKE Faults 8.00/ 8.00
KILLOSSERY; LT SHANE CAREY Faults 4.00/0.00
WATERFORD CRYSTAL; CIAN O'CONNOR Faults 4.00/4.00
9) FRANCE 28 Faults

Full Super League Placings to follow.

http://www.horsesport.ie

.