A masterful display from the Irish Mounted Games team has seen them crowned the new World Champions at the 2017 World Team Championships in South Africa.

The Irish team of Graham Beirne, Tony Whooley, Mark Devitt, Craig O’Connor and Ben O’Connor finished the qualifying rounds in third place, with the first part of the finals played last Friday. All xxxx teams that qualified for the final were back on a score of zero with Ireland taking an early lead winning the first three races.

South Africa did draw level at one stage before Ireland once again pulled ahead. In the second half of the final Ireland came into the ring with a four point lead and they went eleven points ahead at one stage before Wales played pulled back to within four points going into the last race.

But a flawless performance from Ireland saw them take the title by six points at the finish ahead of Wales in second and hosts South Africa in third, New Zealand fourth, Austrailia fifth, England sixth and the USA in seventh.