IRELAND’S joint second place in the opening leg of the Samsung Super League was as good as could be hoped for, but the fact it was shared with Switzerland and the US dented the value of the performance in terms of points gained.

The Irish Nations' Cup team were expected to struggle on their return to the Samsung Super League after a year's absence, but managed to finish a very creditable equal second at La Baule, France this afternoon.

IRELAND show jumping team manager Robert Splaine set out his stall for this year’s Samsung Super League, saying his aim was firstly to maintain our place among the world’s elite.

IT should come as no surprise that plans for Ireland’s nations cup participation are to be revised following ShowjumpingIreland’s re-negotiation last week of its financial input.

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 announcement on Monday of the Irish nations cup quintet for the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show (August 8-12) allows the chance for a more educated guess as to the make-up of the squad for the European Championships, which take place the following week.

THE stylish dash of uniformed Army officers on horseback, the elegant glamour of Miss Ireland Blathnaid McKenna and a background of rare and glorious sunshine made a cocktail to whet the appetite of any romantic.

Two double clear rounds in the warm evening air of Florida helped Ireland to a second place in its first Nations Cup of the year in Wellington last night.

SHANE BREEN, the rider hurriedly drafted into the Irish squad for tomorrow’s nations cup competition at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show, gave the home side its best result in yesterday’s feature Irish Sports Council Classic when seventh.

IRELAND’S show jumpers were in superb form at Barcelona yesterday, giving team manager Robert Splaine cause for optimism ahead of Sunday’s crucial Samsung Super League final.

CONOR SWAIL won the Boswell Grand Prix League on a fitting note yesterday when victorious in the penultimate round at Iverk Show, Piltown, Co Kilkenny.

MARIE BURKE failed in her bid for WEG glory when going out in the penultimate round on Saturday.

IRELAND’S team manager Robert Splaine last night took only positives from yesterday’s third place in the nations cup at the Dublin Horse Show, despite the result failing to lift them from the bottom of the Samsung Super League.

The Dublin Horse Show was opened in fitting style today as the Lord Mayor of Dublin rolled up to the doors in a coach drawn by four black horses.

JESSICA KURTEN’S decision to compete in Russia at the weekend and miss this week’s Dublin Horse Show paid rich dividends as she netted $45,000 in prize money.

MARION HUGHES is hoping that a good result in the nations’ cup at next week’s Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show will alleviate the pressure in the Samsung Super League and allow Ireland to focus fully on the World Equestrian Games.

SHOW jumper Cian O’Connor gave Ireland their second win at Hickstead, when racing to victory on Saturday in the Sky Sports Speed Classic.

IRELAND’S show jumpers dropped to the bottom of the Samsung Super League yesterday, after finishing second last in the German Nations Cup in Aachen.

IRELAND show jumping team manager Robert Splaine is not one for bombast, so it was not surprising yesterday to learn that his aims in today’s French nations cup are modest.

SHOW jumper Jessica Kurten put in another flawless performance in the World Cup final at Kuala Lumpur yesterday, but it was not enough to catch leader, Germany’s Marcus Ehning (Sandro Boy) and the Antrim rider finished in second place.

AN air of expectation more so than optimism permeated the select group at the Equestrian Federation of Ireland’s (EFI) presentation of its jumping committee last Monday.

ROBERT SPLAINE was yesterday officially installed as the manager to the Irish showjumping team and he said his priorities were to stay in the Samsung Nations Cup Super League and to finish in the top five of September’s World Equestrian games, thus qualifying for the Bejing Olympics.

SHOW JUMPER Denis Lynch is experiencing mixed emotions.

JESSICA KÜRTEN emerged this week as the number two ranked show jumper in the world. No mean feat, it came as little surprise following her string of wins against the sport’s elite, including victory in the Dubai Grand Prix, the world’s richest show jumping contest.

THE chairman of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI), Charles Hanley, said yesterday the terms of a contract had been “agreed” with chef d’equipe designate Robert Splaine.

JOHN LEDINGHAM and Robert Splaine are, as expected, the two front-runners for the post of Chef d’Equipe of the Irish Show jumping team following a meeting of riders and management in Dublin yesterday.

RELIEF was the overwhelming feeling emanating from the Irish camp in the final of the Samsung Super League final in Barcelona last Sunday, following the team’s battling performance. But the sense of satisfaction at a task completed was also palpable.

EFFORTS to resolve the row that has beset Irish showjumping failed yesterday, with Jessica Kuerten and Harry Marshall declaring themselves unavailable for international team selection.

Two of Ireland’s top international showjumpers were today urged to put problems aside to line out for the Irish Team in next Friday’s German nations cup.

THE withdrawal of Cian O’Connor from the Irish team in next week’s Aachen nations cup can only be described as fate kicking us when we are down.

CIAN O'CONNOR offered to withdraw his name for selection for the last two Samsung Super League Nations Cup competitions this year in a bid to restore some harmony to Irish showjumping.

Threats were made against Irish international showjumper Cian O’Connor during the Dublin Horse Show last week, a senior equestrian official confirmed tonight.

John Tynan

A FIVE-DAY cocktail of good jumping, mostly fine weather and large crowds dominated the five-day Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show which ended in style at the RDS last evening.

CORK’S Billy Twomey was Ireland’s standard bearer on day one of the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horseshow yesterday, placing second in the opening international class and seventh in the follow-up feature.

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.

NEXT month’s Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show will carry a prize fund of €600,000, it was announced yesterday.