Under Chef d’Equipe Vincent Voorn, the Dutch team of Thijmen Vos (Cadillac Z), Logan Fiechter (Lieverella), Liesje Vrolijk (Detective Vive Z) and Finn Boerekamp (Danny Boy 111 Z) produced three clear rounds to complete the opening round of the Team Final on just 1.80 penalties and retain their lead.

With clears from Tom Wachman (Do It Easy) and Tabitha Kyle (Desterly), Ireland kept the pressure on, but when Coen Williams (Dominante Z) and Ben Walsh (Zenith vd Donkhoeve) both faulted, Ireland had to carry forward four penalties, taking their score to 7.11, giving the Netherlands breathing space with more than a fence in hand heading into the final round.

Great Britain held onto third while Belgium produced three clear rounds courtesy of Lauranne Spits (Parel van het Russeltveld), Paris Vandousselaere (Chacco’s Girl) and Louise Ameeuw (Kaliber) to close the gap and sit less than two penalties behind going into the final round.

Vos was first out for the Dutch with another flawless performance to maintain their advantage. Wachman again delivered a clear for Ireland, while the second riders from both nations each collected four faults. When Ireland’s third rider accrued nine penalties, their four-fault score had to count with one rotation remaining. With the hopes of a nation on her shoulders, Liesje Vrolijk delivered another immaculate clear to seal gold for the Netherlands on an unbeatable score of 5.80 penalties with one rider per team still to jump.

Another clear from Tabitha Kyle secured silver for Ireland on 11.11 penalties, while a crucial second-round clear from Belgium’s final rider, Bart Jay Junior Vandecasteele aboard Lotti Blue Z, clinched bronze and edged Great Britain out of the medal positions.

Meanwhile, Greta Lepratti produced a sensational performance to become the first Italian athlete to claim the FEI Jumping European Young Rider Individual title.

She remained faultless throughout all five rounds aboard the impressive 14-year-old stallion Mercy van’t Ruytershof, climbing from fourth after the opening Individual Qualifier to lead going into the final round.

Noora von Bülow, the youngest athlete in the Young Riders competition at just 17 years of age – and therefore still eligible for the Junior category – produced a double clear aboard the 13-year-old mare Primavera to guarantee herself a medal and pile the pressure on Lepratti and Ireland’s Tom Wachman. The experienced Irishman, aboard the aptly named Do It Easy, again delivered a flawless round to finish on 1.62 penalties and add Individual silver to Ireland’s Team medal of the same colour.

There was never any hint of uncertainty as Lepratti crossed the finish line clear once again, finishing on just 0.58 penalties to rapturous applause from an ecstatic Italian contingent.

Speaking afterwards, Lepratti reflected on the challenge of maintaining her focus throughout a six-day championship.

“It was hard to maintain the concentration throughout the week. We started the Championship on Tuesday and finished on Sunday, so it’s a really long week and hard for our minds to keep the concentration high,” she explained.

“But I really trusted my horse – and also myself – after everything we did this year. I really believed in us, so I’m really happy with this result. We really are like a team. He was the best mate to start this career and this sport with. I will celebrate with my family, friends, coach and everyone who supported us through all this journey!”