Skelton’s pit stop sees Irish lose fizz

BRITAIN’S Nick Skelton revealed the secret of his jump-off win against Ireland yesterday in a thrilling Nations Cup contest at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show — a pint of Bulmers.

The veteran rider said that when he thought his team were out of contention after the first round, he “ducked upstairs to the bar for a pint of Bulmers” .

It obviously had the right effect, because after his team fought back to tie with Ireland at the end of two rounds, Skelton went on to produce a superlative clear round on the gelding Carlo 273, which proved too good for Ireland’s Billy Twomey and Tinka’s Serenade.