On last Sunday evening, at the end of five days jumping, Italy’s young star Lorenzo De Luca emerged as Leading Rider of the Dublin Horse Show ahead of Ireland’s Billy Twomey.

And that really told the story of 50th anniversary international competitions at this year’s RDS. In just about all of the 11 major classes, it was Ireland v Italy and in the end, a superb Italian squad came out on top including the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup for the Aga Khan Trophy and the Longines Grand Prix for the Irish Government Trophy.

THE AGA KHAN

The most dramatic Aga Khan finale in many years saw Italy snatch the coveted Cup from the firm grasp of the Irish in a head-to-head jump-off that drew a unified gasp from the packed main arena stands.

Ireland’s four of Denis Lynch, Greg Broderick, Bertram Allen and Cian O’Connor had matched the Italians stride for stride through two demanding rounds over Alan Wade’s ingenious course.

Despite having been tested by some 90 strategically placed fences, the two sides remained tied on zero score at the break.

Lynch and the Argentinus stallion All Star 5 delivered an opening clear and then a single time round second time out. Broderick and his Olympic selected MHS Going Global (ISH) produced their usual easy to watch double clear. Having lowered the first and last on their initial trip, Bertram Allen and Noel Delahunty’s ebullient Hector van D’Abdijhoeve came back to post a breathtaking second round clear that set the possibility of a tie in motion.

When Cian came up with his confident double clear on Good Luck, it was all down to Italy’s last man in Chimirri Bruno.

The pressure was on and he did all that chef Roberto Arioldi asked of him with a clear that created the two-man tie-breaker.

Wade’s jump-off track allowed for two main stride-dropping spots. First in, Denis Lynch beautifully took advantage of the first of these and looked set to put up a very demanding time when all hell broke loose as he attempted to do the same coming to the last. All Star was having none of it and as the stands gulped Ballsbridge air, the stallion determinedly ducked out to have Denis home on six excruciating penalties.

This left the door wide open for Piergiorgio Bucci on his Global Champions Tour star Casello Z by Casall. He waltzed home clear for his country’s fifth win in the 82 runnings of this event.

Ireland’s second place ensured our qualification for the Barcelona final.

Italy must battle it out this week in Hickstead against Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Britain who are also bidding for Furusiyya Division 1 points there.

Robert Splaine’s side has used up all of its points outings. But we still compete at the Sussex venue with Bertram Allen, Shane Breen, Anthony Condon, Billy Twomey and Paul Kennedy.

INTERNATIONAL ACTION

Cian O’Connor set Ireland’s attack in motion on Wednesday with a win on Aramis by the Holsteiner Askari. In an Irish sweep, Bertram Allen, Greg Broderick, Billy Twomey and Darragh Kenny filled the next four places. But in the Sport Ireland Classic that followed, Italy’s Lorenzo De Luca began his romp of wins on the Irish-bred Limestone Grey by Try Time which David Moran bred in Askeaton.

Billy Twomey opened for the Irish on Thursday with a first-to-go win in the Clayton Hotel Speed Derby on the Joe Flynn-bred Ardcolum Duke by Gypsy Duke (ISH)(TIH). Shane Sweetnam came second on Cyklon by Cardento which went on to win for the US-based rider in Saturday’s Gain Accumulator.

The next two Thursday classes went to the rampaging De Luca as he won the Serpentine Stakes on Limestone Grey ahead of Billy Twomey on Tin Tin and then took the Anglesea Stakes on Halifax by Heartbreaker. After Shane Sweetnam’s Accumulator win on Saturday, De Luca was at it again with another win on Limestone Grey in the JLT Dublin Stakes.

The Irish were back in top form for Saturday evening’s hugely entertaining Land Rover Puissance. Jack O’Donohue on Acorad by Acorado, Shane Breen on Susan Oakes’ Cisero and Peter Smyth on Cavalier Rusticana by Try Time all made it through to the fourth jump-off. Shane and Jack were clear again to share the top two prizes. Sunday’s Speed Championship became an Irish romp as Shane Sweetnam won on Cyklon, Billy Twomey on Ardcolum Duke, Bertram Allen with Quiet Easy and Capt. Geoff Curran on Shannondale Rahana filled the top four places.

And then it was down to the €200,000 Longines Grand Prix. Over Alan Wade’s lengthy 14-fence track, just four of the 40 starters came home clear. There were many on four faults and two returned with a single time fault. But clear went Audrey Coulter of the all lady USA team on Capital Colnardo by Colman; Shane Breen on Golden Hawk by world champion Vigo d’Arsouilles, the great Lorenzo De Luca on Ensor de Litrange by Nabab de Reve and to the delight of the Sunday evening crowd, Cian O’Connor on Good Luck by Canturo.

Could it be that the young Italian would score yet one more win? Here is how it went!

Audrey knocked the boat fence six. Shane went beautifully clear in 48.07. But next in Lorenzo beat that in 47.44. It was all down to Cian. He needed a tight turn and tried for it after the boat to the bookcase wall. But it was too tight for Good Luck who turned away to allow Italian star Lorenzo De Luca to shine again.