There were some positive moves for Irish riders in the latest Longines rankings issued by the world governing body, the FEI, yesterday.

Ireland’s show jumpers could be in line for a notable treble as they tackle the Wellington Nations Cup this weekend during week eight of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

Pádraig Harrington admits he may need to undergo surgery on a troublesome shoulder injury to ensure he gets back to fitness in time for the Irish Open and the Open at Royal Birkdale.

South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl claimed the clubhouse lead in the BMW SA Open as tournament host Ernie Els suffered another attack of the dreaded yips at Glendower.

Show jumping is to be staged at three greyhound stadia this summer.

Capt Michael Kelly enjoyed a bright couple of days on the Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, scoring a double. 

Show jumper Bertram Allen earned the keys to a car yesterday as he continued his drive to break into World top-10 by winning the grand prix at Dortmund, Germany.

A new match-play event between Europe and Asia, the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM, will be part of the 2014 European Tour schedule.

UCC’s Ian O’Rourke smashed the men’s course record at Strandhill Golf Club with a dazzling eight-under-par 62 to coast to victory in the second event in the Intervarsity Series.

Corkman Tony Hurley was last night elected chairman of ShowjumpingIreland at the first meeting of the new executive.

The opening event of the European Tour season suffered a total wipe-out for the second day running in South Africa today after further torrential rain.

Branden Grace now has Race to Dubai front-runner Rory McIlroy in his sights after leading from start to finish to capture the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews.

SHOW jumper Jessica Kürten’s slide down the Rolex World Rankings continued last month, with the Antrim woman now lying 20th.

IT HAS been a while since Pádraig Harrington played a round of professional golf but that isn’t to say he has been resting on his laurels over the festive season and the turn of the year.

Charl Schwartzel delivered a magical 10-under-par round of 61 on a rain-affected day two of the Joburg Open to storm into a share of the lead at the halfway stage.

Thomas Aiken made his move early on day two of the Joburg Open, taking a one-stroke lead before rain halted his progress after 12 holes.

Martin Maritz and Tyrone Mordt shared the lead after round one of the Joburg Open today with both carding faultless nine-under-par 62s, although they came on different sets of 18 holes at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

Branden Grace set the early pace at the Joburg Open after a blistering eight-under-par 63 in the opening round.

CHARL SCHWARTZEL is desperate to replicate his winning form from last year’s Joburg Open when the 2011 edition gets under way at the RoyalJohannesburg and Kensington Golf Club today.

BRITISH Open champion Louis Oosthuizen held his nerve in a three-way play-off with England’s Chris Wood and Spain’s Manuel Quiros to clinch the Africa Open.

Louis Oosthuizen shares the lead with Markus Brier heading into tomorrow’s final round of the Africa Open after a four-under-par round of 69 on day three handed him a 13-under total in East London.

Chris Swanepoel was the early pace-setter on a delayed day one of the Africa Open in East London, which saw more than 90 minutes lost at the start due to poor visibility.

DARREN CLARKE is desperate for his career to get back on the right track in 2011 and is hoping this week’s Africa Open will be the place where he turns around his fortunes.

Ernie Els claimed a fifth South African Open title after his final-round six-under-par 63 helped him edge out another former champion, Retief Goosen, by a shot in Durban.

Overnight leader Ernie Els headed the South African Open by one shot after round three was played early today and three-time major winner will be aiming for another similar effort later this afternoon as he bids to secure a fifth title.

Retief Goosen stormed into a four-shot lead with two holes still to play in his first round at a rain-affected South African Open in Durban today.

Retief Goosen stormed into a four-shot lead with two holes still to play in his first round at a rain-affected South African Open in Durban today.

Robert Rock made a flying start to his final round at the Alfred Dunhill Championship to close to within four shots of leader Anthony Michael in Malelane.

Defending champion Pablo Martin and last year’s runner-up Charl Schwartzel both made strong starts to day three of the Alfred Dunhill Championship to close the gap on leader Anthony Michael.

Ireland’s Darren Clarke faltered badly at the final tee to move out of contention at the South Africa Open today.

Jake Roos blazed through the first 15 holes of round three at the Africa Open with eight birdies to take the outright lead in East London today on 15 under par – one stroke clear of overnight leader Trevor Fisher Jr.

TREVOR FISHER JUNIOR held the lead at the halfway stage of the Africa Open after matching his opening-day effort with another 66 in East London to head into the weekend on 14-under-par.

Trevor Fisher Jr held the lead at the halfway stage of the Africa Open after matching his opening-day effort with another 66 in East London to head into the weekend on 14-under-par.

GETTING quickly back into the groove didn’t prove to be a problem for Darren Clarke last year when he shot the lights out and finished second to Retief Goosen in the Africa Open.

One of the best shots of his life helped Swede Martin Erlandsson to an eight-under-par 64 and a one-stroke lead on the opening day of the South African Open.

This year’s edition of the HSBC Champions in China has received a significant boost with elevation to the elite World Golf Championships and a $2m (€1.5m) increase in prize money.

FIRST-ROUND clears from Kevin Babington and Shane Sweetnam helped Ireland finish joint second in the USA Nations Cup in Florida on Friday night, just one fault separating them from winners Canada.

Wexford's Dave Quigley picked up his second win in a row at the Spanish Sunshine Tour near Cadiz today while Cian O'Connor notched up his first victory of the show.

Anders Hansen has revealed that he knew he had the chance of winning the Joburg Open after looking at the scoreboard before the final round teed off yesterday.

An outstanding finish to his front nine holes helped Anders Hansen take a one-shot lead into the final afternoon at the Joburg Open today.

Charl Schwartzel, Andrew McLardy and David Drysdale share the lead going into the final round of the Joburg Open after the trio finished a rain-affected day three on 11-under par.

Charl Schwartzel made a blistering start to his third round at the Joburg Open today, picking up eight shots through 13 holes to move joint top alongside overnight leader David Drysdale.

David Drysdale followed up his opening-day 65 by carding a six-under round of 66 to lead a rain-affected Joburg Open by one stroke at the halfway stage today.

David Drysdale was leading the Joburg Open this afternoon when play was suspended because of thunder and lightning.