Robert Splaine will use the European Show Jumping Championships in Denmark next August as a test run in his bid to qualify a team for the 2016 Olympics.

IT took over two months, but Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) yesterday identified the Sia Group as the consultancy that will undertake a review of Ireland’s poor performance at the European Show Jumping Championships in Madrid.

SHANE SWEETNAM is not discounting Ireland nabbing a medal at this month’s European Show Jumping Championships, but said everything would have to go the team’s way.

IRELAND’S eventers will be hoping a good performance in today’s cross-country will push them up the leaderboard at the European Championships in Luhmühlen, Germany, having finished a poor eighth of 10 countries after the dressage phase.

CIAN O’Connor gave a masterclass in show jumping at Millstreet Horse Show yesterday, taking the top two places in the €25,000 grand prix, having earlier won the prestigious Boomerang final.

DENIS LYNCH continues to speed on with Night Train, placing second in yesterday’s 1.50m jump-off class at the Global Champions Tour (GCT) show in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands.

SENIOR rider Michael Ryan says Eventing Ireland must have good cause if it chooses to redirect the money it annually allocates for high performance.

SHOW jumper Jessica Kürten last night refused to accept the imposition of a minor fine by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) after it revealed the B sample taken from the horse Castle Forbes Maike had confirmed the presence of a prohibited substance.

SHOW JUMPER Jessica Kürten will not line out alongside Cian O’Connor and the rest of the Irish team in next week’s Dublin Horse Show.

IRELAND’S misery in the European Show Jumping Championships was complete yesterday, when the team was eliminated from the competition in San Patrignano, Italy.

IRELAND’S aspirations in the European Show Jumping Championships were dealt a crushing blow yesterday with the withdrawal of Clarion Hotels Coolcorron Cool Diamond and Roberts Splaine.

IRELAND’S flag bearers in next week’s European Show Jumping Championships gave themselves a timely fillip yesterday with a win and second place in the Netherlands.

KEVIN BABINGTON and Carling King produced one of only two double clears yesterday to help Ireland finish fifth in the European Show Jumping Championships in Donaueschingen, Germany.