In a thrilling finish to the Grand Prix at Leipzig today Ireland took both first and third places, with Jessica Kurten claiming the €33,000 winner's prize and Cian O'Connor taking third place.

CIAN O’CONNOR’S education of Rancorrado took a big step forward yesterday when he steered the 10-year-old gelding to victory in the grand prix at Chantilly, France.

SHOW jumper Denis Lynch yesterday said he was interested in competing in the Olympics, but acknowledged the decision is up to the Ireland manager Robert Splaine.

Jessica Kurten narrowly missed racking up her third major consecutive victory at Gothenburg today when she placed second in the Speed Final with Lady Georgina Forbes's eight year-old mare Castle Forbes Cosma, behind Norway's Tony André Hansen.

SHOW jumper Jessica Kurten put the disappointment of last weekend’s Paris grand prix behind her on Saturday to take the €300,000 Rolex Top 10 in Geneva, Switzerland, with her ‘wonder horse’ Castle Forbes Libertina.

THE secretary general of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), Michael Stone, last night said he is going to launch an investigation into how it emerged a horse ridden by Jessica Kürten, Castle Forbes Maike, tested positive for a banned substance.

IRELAND’S show jumpers are in seventh place as they enter the first nations cup of the European Championships in Mannheim, Germany, today.

Jessica Kurten narrowly missed the jump-off for the Swiss Life Classic prize at Zurich, Switzerland today when she dropped a single pole in the first round.

Jessica Kurten added to her prize winnings at the five-star show in Zurich, Switzerland tonight, taking third place in the Swiss Masters competition.

JESSICA Kurten moved up one place to third in the overall rankings at the World Cup final in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

SHOW jumper Jessica Kurten moved up one place to third in the overall rankings at the World Cup final in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

MICHAEL DOWLING, chairman of the implementation group charged with setting up the umbrella body for equestrianism, yesterday said the ending of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland’s international status should not affect its role in the umbrella organisation.

EVENTING followers will be disappointed to hear that Blarney Castle International Three-day Event will not be run this year. The event was scheduled to return to the eventing calendar in 2006, having not run since 2001.

THE formal ratification of Robert Splaine as chef d’equipe to the senior show jumping team may not take place until January, as the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) has not scheduled an executive meeting until the New Year.