IRELAND lie third in the FEI Nations Cup Series and preparations for a shot at Olympic qualification at next month’s European Championships in Madrid are on target, so, all in all, manager Robert Splaine is entitled to be reasonably satisfied.

TWENTY years after first competing at Dublin Horse Show, Shane Sweetnam is close to living his dream by lining out on the Irish team to contest tomorrow’s Nations Cup contest.

SHOWJUMPINGIRELAND has suspended its rule sanctioning members who attend unaffiliated shows, as it “digests” a Competition Authority report on the rule.

THIS week it emerged that:

IRELAND show jumping manager Robert Splaine has blended two debutants with three riders boasting vast experience in his nations cup squad for next week’s Dublin Horse Show.

IF experience can buy one thing, it is the ability to deal with success and failure... and Irish show jumping team manager Robert Splaine has more than enough experience to handle the proverbial two sides of the same coin.

It has been confirmed by the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) that Ireland's show jumpers will be promoted to the elite Samsung Super League in 2008, replacing France, who will now compete only in the FEI Nations Cup Series.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is determined to ensure all loose ends are tied up ahead of its official launch on January 1.

DESPITE racking up 41 faults, Ireland’s show jumpers placed second to France in the nations cup at Zagreb yesterday.

IT is a measure of the respect and affection with which show jumper Marie Burke is held that, following her surprise axing by manager Robert Splaine from the European Championships team in Mannheim last month, she was the subject of much condolence.

THE five-man squad to represent Ireland in the nations cup at next month’s Dublin Horse Show was announced yesterday.

THE Irish show jumping team finished last in the Nations Cup at Falsterbo, Sweden, yesterday, graphically realising manager Robert Splaine’s prediction that it would be a tough assignment.

Ireland’s show jumping team manager Robert Splaine is not expecting an easy ride today when his charges line out in the Swedish Nations Cup in Falsterbo.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) is to submit the nominations of its affiliates for the interim board of Horse Sport Ireland to Arts Sports and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue on Monday.