Kilkenny man to the fore on victorious Irish Show Jumping team
Kilkenny’s Seamus Hughes Kennedy featured in the successful Irish Show Jumping team
The Irish Show Jumping team celebrated their first senior Nations Cup victory of 2026 with a superb performance on Friday in the Longines EEF Series at Scuderia La Caccia in Bedizzole, Italy, emerging victorious after a dramatic jump-off against the host nation, with Danesfort's Seamus Hughes Kennedy playing a key role in Ireland's success.
The Irish quartet of Kildare's Niall Talbot on Charming Dream, Wexford's Harry Allen riding Edison de Hus, Kilkenny's Seamus Hughes Kennedy with the Sinead Kennedy-bred Cosmo and Louth's Mark McAuley aboard Rossi VD Heffinck, combined brilliantly to secure victory ahead of Italy in second place and Switzerland in third.
The result marked an important breakthrough for the Irish team, delivering their first victory since Jessica Kurten took over from Michael Blake as Irish team manager in December 2025.
Thirteen nations lined up in Bedizzole, including Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine, with the stunning Scuderia La Caccia venue providing a spectacular backdrop near the shores of Lake Garda.
The competition quickly developed into a battle between some of Europe’s strongest Nations Cup teams. Switzerland and Italy shared the lead after the opening round on a flawless score of zero, while Ireland remained firmly in contention heading into a pressure-filled second round.
Mark McAuley produced a crucial clear round aboard Rossi VD Heffinck to keep Ireland’s hopes alive before Italy answered immediately with another immaculate performance to force a jump-off in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
Ireland turned to Harry Allen and Edison de Hus for the deciding round- and the talented combination delivered emphatically. Having already jumped double clear during the Nations Cup competition, Allen produced a third flawless round of the day with remarkable composure and speed to secure the win. Italy’s hopes faded when Piergiorgio Bucci lowered an early rail in the jump-off, confirming Ireland’s triumph.