It took a jump-off, a missed turn, and one final ice-cold clear round to separate Ireland from Italy in this leg of the Longines EEF Series in Bedizzole. In a white-hot atmosphere at Scuderia La Caccia, Harry Allen and Edison de Hus delivered an old-school victory for the Boys in Green: clinical, composed, and flawless. Italy thought they had the perfect script. Until the second fence of the jump-off.
A nations cup that felt like a gunpowder keg
For two rounds, there was absolutely nothing between Italy and Ireland. Switzerland matched them stride for stride early on. Same pressure. Same intensity. Same razor-thin margins over Paolo Rossato’s demanding 1.50m track. But in the end, there can only be one winner.
And this time, Ireland walked away with the prize.
The decider came down to a jump-off between Harry Allen and Piergiorgio Bucci. On one side: Edison de Hus, a relentless clear-round machine. On the other: Casalia DG, only nine years old but already thrown into championship-level waters. Allen executed his plan without the slightest hesitation. Clear round. 40.37 seconds. Bucci tried to answer, clipped the second fence, and immediately retired. The end.
Harry Allen: ice-cold precision
Three rounds. Three clear rounds. At just 23 years old, Harry Allen rode like the boss, without ever looking like he was trying to.
“Edison de Hus is a fantastic horse,” the Irish rider said afterwards.
Simple. Just like his riding.
« “To be honest, I didn’t feel that much pressure in the jump-off. I was mostly really happy with how the horse jumped. I stayed focused on my plan and everything worked out perfectly. And we were quick too.” »
The pair already knew the venue well after winning a 1.50m class here back in February. This time, the story was bigger: delivering Ireland’s first victory of the 2026 Longines EEF Series campaign.
Italy came agonisingly close
For a long time, the Italians believed this Nations Cup was theirs.
And honestly, they had every reason to. Double clear for Giacomo Bassi and Cash du Pratel. Another double clear for Bruno Chimirri and Je Suis Godot d’Acheronte. A disciplined, compact, incredibly solid team performance.
But the jump-off changed everything.
Piergiorgio Bucci and Casalia DG had held the line despite a rail in round two. Then came that costly mistake at the second fence, the kind of mistake that loses a Nations Cup.
Switzerland collapses at the worst possible moment
Level with Italy after round one, Switzerland unravelled when it mattered most.
Bryan Smits and Verdi Van ’T Laerhof Z picked up 16 penalties. Janika Sprunger and Bryan Balsiger also left rails behind them. The result: third place, though it felt more like a missed opportunity for a Swiss side that looked capable of going all the way.
Jessica Kürten continues to build Ireland’s future
Behind the scenes, Jessica Kürten keeps shaping an Irish squad that is deep, balanced, and increasingly feared by rival nations.
The former top-level rider praised the development of the entire team, from Niall Talbot to Mark McAuley, while also highlighting Seamus Hughes Kennedy, who was called up at the last minute following Ethen Aherne’s withdrawal.
« “Our plan is to use the EEF Series to develop our riders and horses. Looking ahead, some of the riders here today could be aiming for the Olympic Games. We are trying to build horse-and-rider combinations with that Olympic goal in mind, and that is exactly why the Longines EEF Series are so important for us.
I also think special thanks should go to the organisers here in Bedizzole. Conditions were difficult, with a huge amount of rain, and I thought they handled the entire situation calmly, logically, and always with the horse’s welfare in mind.” »
And the riders clearly appreciate her leadership.
“What we value about our chef d’équipe is the respect she shows the riders.”
A fitting detail, because in modern Nations Cups, human management matters almost as much as clear rounds.
Italy still takes control of the southern region
Despite the defeat, Italy strengthened its position in the regional standings. Thanks to second place in Bedizzole, the Italians now lead the Southern Region ahead of the next leg in Thessaloniki in early June.
The 2026 Longines EEF Series continues with the hierarchy still far from settled, but one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Ireland’s depth of talent is starting to look seriously worrying for the rest of Europe.
Find les résultats complets de la Coupe des nations EEF Series de Bedizzole ici
(photo cover ©EEF Series/La Caccia)