IRISH dreams of winning the Rome Nations Cup yesterday afternoon (Friday) remained elusive after a tough battle involving 12 countries at the 88th edition of CSIO Nations Cup at Rome’s Piazza di Siena in Italy.

In an exciting jump-off between Belgium and Germany, Belgian ace Gregory Wathelet and the 13-year-old grey stallion Nevados S (Calvados Z) clinched a narrow win to give Belgium its second Nations Cup win in almost 90 years with Belgium last winning at Rome in 2014.

However, there was no luck for Team Ireland at Rome for Michael Blake’s team of Mark McAuley (Jasco VD Bisschop), Bertram Allen (Pacino Amiro (ISH)), Denis Lynch (Cristello) and Darragh Kenny (VDL Cartello), who were drawn 11th to jump of the 12 nations.

Despite a clear from Kenny and just four on the board from Allen, a first round team total of 12 just held back the Irish team from going forward to round two of the contest.

Hosts Italy were going all out to add to their tally of 29 wins since the competition first took place in 1926. However, on a day when the best laid plans went astray for many, Team Italy ended round one on a team total of 20 faults to also exit after round one along with Japan (20) and Egypt (24).

It was game on between Germany and Belgium who each finished round one on zero faults. Going forward to round two on eight faults apieces were Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Mexico, Sweden and USA.

The final score in the jump-off decider was Belgian’s winning team of Olivier Philippaerts, Yves Vanderhasselt, Jerome Guery and Gregory Wathelet (0/36.01) from runners-up Germany (0/36.63).

Tied for third were Brazil and France (eight faults) followed by the USA on nine faults with Sweden rounding out the top six on 12 faults.

Irish performances

First to go for Ireland in round one, Louth’s Mark McAuley with Jasco VD Bisschop finished with eight faults, with one fence down and a foot in the water to put the pressure on Ireland from the outset. Wexford’s Bertram Allen with Aiden McGrory’s Pacino Amiro (ISH) had an unfortunate four faults. With Ireland ranked third at this stage in the competition, all eyes were on Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and Cristello.

However, despite a good start, things started to unravel at the triple combination and they ended the round on an uncharacteristic total of 13 faults to be the Irish discard round with the Irish team trailing on 12 faults to rank 11th at that point.

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny then posted a cool, polished clear with VDL Cartello in 72.48 but it was just not enough to keep Ireland in the game. However, Kenny’s clear qualified the combination for this weekend’s Grand Prix.