WITH three double clear rounds on the board, Ireland faced a zero-score jump-off at Lummen this afternoon for the Belgian Nations' Cup.

And in a one-to-one battle Cork's Billy Twomey and 'Tinka's Serenade' produced a fault-free round against Australia's four-faulting Chris Chugg and 'Vivant' to snatch the trophy.

With 13 teams vying for the Cup, eight made it through to the second round, and Ireland and Australia both delivered clear rounds from their three remaining riders.

In the first round only Nations Cup rookie Alex Duffy and 'Tampa' failed to produce a clear for Ireland, but as the discard score Duffy did not jump in the second round, leaving Denis Lynch, Shane Breen and Billy Twomey to bid for glory.

All three produced clear rounds and the zero score left them tying for first place with Australia, a situation quickly rectified by Twomey's third clear round in the jump-off against Chris Chugg.

Afterwards Ireland's Show Jumping Team Manager Robert Splaine said: "This was a top display from our riders, and to finish on a zero score was a great achievement. It was a tough competition, and the Australians fielded a very strong team. We were here to try out some new horses with the Meydan Series in mind, and the exercise was highly successful from that point of view."

Billy Twomey - wins jump-off