Ireland has won a dramatic EEF Series Nations Cup in Borgo La Caccia – Bedizzole after Harry Allen and Edison De Hus jumped a triple clear to seal victory in a jump-off against hosts Italy.
Jessica Kurten’s team of Niall Talbot, Seamus Hughes Kennedy, Allen and Mark McAuley finished on 4 faults after two rounds of jumping, with double clears from Talbot with Charming Dream Z and Allen with Edison De Hus.
That meant a jump-off, with Allen first in for Ireland. He was quick and clear, ramping the pressure up on Piergiorgio Bucci and Casalia DG, who dropped a pole before retiring with victory out Italian hands.
Delighted Ireland boss Kuerten said: “What started off as a very difficult day, with never ending rain and a lot of uncertainty as to whether we could even run the competition, the show organisers made a great job of being patient and waiting for the rain to stop.
“Our team gave a very solid performance and what was a hard fought Nations Cup with strong Swiss and Italian teams.
“Harry and Edison De Hus in the jump-off set a time that forced Bucci into making a mistake and the victory was ours. It was a great team performance and our thanks to everyone involved – it was a sweet success.”
Ireland were in the mix throughout, with Talbot and Charming Dream Z first in for the green team and clear to settle any nerves.
Allen and Edison De Hus did the same as Ireland went into the break on a score of four faults after both Hughes Kennedy with MHS Cosmo and McAuley with Rossi vd Heffinck both had just a single error.
That thread continued in round two as both Talbot and Allen made it two clears a piece before McAuley ensured a final tally of four faults with his own clear on Rossi vd Heffinck.
With the home team emulating Ireland’s score it was left to Allen to bring home a first Nations Cup win for Kurten and he did it in style.