USA edge out Ireland to lift Aga Khan trophy
The USA edged Ireland to lift the Aga Khan trophy after a dramatic day at the RDS in the 100th edition of the Nations Cup.
In the 100th edition of the Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show, the USA edged Ireland to secure the Aga Khan trophy. The nail-biting competition came down to the wire, with Laura Kraut's clear round from the 2025 Dublin Grand Prix proving crucial for the Americans. The historic event also marked the first time two brothers competed for the same Irish team - Daniel Coyle, 31, and his older brother Jordan Coyle, 33.
Ireland's Daniel Coyle gave his team a perfect start with a clear round, followed by his brother Jordan with Chaccolino. When Ireland's third combination, Shane Sweetnam on Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z, went clear, anchor rider Cian O'Connor didn't need to jump in the first round. Ireland remained fault-free, tied with the USA in first place after the second round.
However, Natalie Dean from the USA picked up four faults, as did Ireland's Shane Sweetnam. Laura Kraut's vital clear round for the USA meant the competition was settled, resulting in a USA victory while Ireland had to settle for the runner-up spot. Switzerland took third place, followed by Germany and Britain, with Belgium, Netherlands, and France rounding out the top eight.
The Defender Puissance will be the highlight of the 2026 Dublin Horse Show on Sunday, with the €1m Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland concluding the event.
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