Belgium's Pieter Devos won the FEI Jumping Nations Cup event in Poland for his country in the jump-off ©FEI

Belgium's Pieter Devos defeated Ireland's Paul O'Shea in a jump-off at the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Nations Cup event in Poland to increase pressure on France in the overall standings.

Belgium and Ireland both ended the day of action at the Hippodrome in Sopot with four faults each, forcing a jump-off.

Devos had only just competed when he needed to take to the arena again.

He delivered a faultless ride on horse Apart while O'Shea hit the first fence with Skara Glen's Machu Picchu.

"I said 'okay, I’ll do it', and normally Apart is very, very fast, but today he got a bit stressed when we had to go back into the ring almost straight away," said Devos of being asked to compete in the jump-off.

"But he always gives me everything and hey, everyone is very happy if you are last to go and you win it for your country."

It was the second consecutive victory for Belgium at Sopot, having triumphed last year.

This was Belgium's second consecutive victory at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup event in Sopot ©FEI
This was Belgium's second consecutive victory at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup event in Sopot ©FEI

Devos and Niels Bruynseels were part of that team, while Gudrun Patteet and Yves Vanderhasselt are new additions.

Belgium now move up to second in the Jumping Nations Cup Europe Division One standings with 190 points, closing the gap to leaders on France who are on 260 after finishing third with eight faults. 

Switzerland are just behind Belgium with 180.

The top seven nations will qualify for October's FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, where a spot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be up for grabs. 

Geesteren in the Netherlands is next to host the Jumping Nations Cup, with action taking place next Sunday (June 23).