The penultimate round of the Samsung Super League was held at the 275th Dublin Horse Show where 8 countries were vying for the honour of the Aga Khan Cup.

As we came into this round Germany were heading the leader board with 35.125 points ahead of USA sitting on 32.0 points. The French are sitting n 3rd spot on 31.0 points with the Swiss just behind them on 26.625 points in 4th position. The Brits are in 5th spot with 26.0 points and the Swedes are well behind in 6th spot on 18.125 points.

The second last team are the Dutch on 14.125 points and last on the leaderboard are again the Irish sitting well behind on 12.0 points, once again looking down the barrel of relegation - so today's Aga Khan is an important class in many ways - the Irish would be hoping for a result which would see them placing higher than the Dutch.

The class started with the traditional parade of teams which were as always lead in by the exceptional Irish marching bands - pictured below.

The men and women in their finery for this show is one of the traditions everyone loves - pictured left - the top hat and tails look fabulous!

The all important course walk shows the riders for the first time what the Course Designer has in store for them - and todays Brian Henry track seemed on first impressions to be not quite as testing as many of the Super League tracks - but it is not always as it seems...........................
Robert Smith - pictured right - gives youngster Tim Gredley some advice during the course walk.

Maurice Bonneau -pictured left - discusses the course with his French riders.

Robert Splaine walks the course with Cian O'Connor, Cameron Hanley and Capt. Shane Carey - pictured below

Swiss Chef, Herr Grass - pictured left - walks the course with his team, Markus Fuchs, Daniel Etter, Celine Stauffer and Theo Muff.

Irish Olympian, Marion Hughes - pictured right - was sidelined when her horse Heritage Transmission sustained an injury was on hand to walk the course with Shane Breen, making his debut in Super League competition.

Cameron Hanley is another making his first appearance on an Irish Super League team.
A Samsung Super League Nations Cup course is a strange place to come across a tourist - pictured left - taking photos of flowers.................

Dublin Horse Show always have an on-course carpenter -pictured right - complete with tools on hand to make last minute adjustments or mid-course repairs to broken fences.

The Parade of Nations caused some heart stopping moments when the first team out, the French discovered that Jacques Bonnet's stallion, Jani De Blondel- pictured below - didn't like the big brass band playing their national anthem - either that or he was trying to stand to attention..!!??!!
The men in uniform always look so smart in the saddle and Captain Shane Carey - pictured right - of the Irish Army Equitation School is no exception as he salutes the Judges on his ride past.

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