Edited press release from Vilamoura Equestrian Centre

Seven weeks of competition at Vilamoura Equestrian Centre in Portugal concluded with a thrilling Nations Cup with seventeen teams competing, five more than in last year’s edition.

During the week, the Italian course designer Elio Travagliati was in charge of designing the tracks and for Sunday's Nations Cup it was set at 1.45m – counting 12 obstacles and 15 efforts.

From the seventeen teams in the competition, eight got through to the second round: Italy, USA, Brazil, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Spain and Ireland.

Eventually, the best three teams were all from the European continent; Italy with Piergiorgio Bucci on Carpe Diem J&F Champblanc (Casall x Concerto II), Marta Bottanelli on Acheo Di San Patrignano (Ephebe For Ever x Nadir Di San Patrignano), Massimo Grossato on D Mark 2 (Dollar du Murier x Cordobes II) and Antonio Alfonso on Harrie (Harmony x Aramis Z) finished second on twelve faults, while Switzerland with Romain Duguet on Calder (Casall x Coriano), Edwin Smits on Farezzo (VDL Arezzo x Van Gogh), Edouard Schmitz on Quno (Quo Vados I x Cashandcarry) and Barbara Schnieper on Quick Fire (Quintero x Contender) took the third place with thirteen faults. The Irish team with Anthony Condon on SFS Vincomte (Veni Vidi Vici x Magic Darco), Jack Ryan on BSB McGregor (Cardento x Mark Twain) and the brothers Shane and Trevor Breen – Shane on Lady Star Van Dorperheide (Zilverstar T x Winningmood) and Trevor on Highland President (Clinton x Kannan) – lead by the Chef d’ Equipe Michael Blake, took home the win with a total score of eight faults.