The Equestrian Federation of Ireland has issued a statement confirming that Jessica Kurten's horse - Castle Forbes Maike - tested positive for a prohibited substance on an A Sample.

Ireland's show-jumping team today lost its last chance of qualifying for the 2008 Olympics when it failed to stay in the top 10 after the first round of the team championship at Mannheim, Germany.

DOUBLE European show-jumping gold medallist Peter Charles has opted to give up riding for Ireland and to put his name for forward for the British squad.

CHAMBERS IRELAND yesterday criticised the guidelines on employee financial involvement (EFI) in Irish companies, published on Wednesday, as alienating the majority of private-sector companies due to its bias towards union-based workplaces.

HSI brings together equestrian’s breeding and sporting sectors. The former is currently regulated by the Irish Horse Board with the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (made up of 15 affiliates) governing the latter.

THE Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) has appointed a director general almost a year after it dispensed with the previous incumbent.

THE announcement on Wednesday of the setting up of the new umbrella body for equestrianism, Horse Sport Ireland (HSI), received broad welcome.

SHOW jumper Peter Charles yesterday said he would “rule nothing in, or, nothing out” when asked of speculation he is about to change nationality.

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.

GREEN GLENS owner Noel C Duggan, the organiser of what is arguably Ireland’s biggest show jumping event, yesterday confirmed that he is to run independently of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI).

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) Jumping Committee yesterday came out in support of Irish show jumping team manager Robert Splaine in his dispute with rider Jessica Kürten.

TEAM manager Robert Splaine yesterday said he was confident Ireland could maintain its place in the elite Samsung Super Show Jumping League.

THE chairwoman of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI), Patricia Furlong, yesterday welcomed the latest moves at the formation of an umbrella body for equestrianism.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) executive has been issued with draft proposals on the setting up of an umbrella body for the equine industry as the initiative gains momentum.

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.

THE new management team for Irish international show jumping will be officially unveiled on Monday, according to the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI).

SHOW Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) chairperson Patricia Furlong yesterday described the association’s decision to relinquish control of all international teams to the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) as a positive development for the sport at grassroots level.

THE plans of Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) secretary general Dan Butler for Irish international participation this year are coming to fruition.

SHOW JUMPER Denis Lynch is experiencing mixed emotions.

BRITISH show jumping legend Malcolm Pyrah is one of five candidates in the frame to become the next Irish show jumping team manager.

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 Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) has received more than one application for the post of team manager to the Irish international show jumping team

COMMANDANT John Ledingham will not be applying for the newly-advertised position of team manager to the Irish international show jumping team.

SHOW JUMPER Jessica Kürten notched up a hat-trick of wins at Leipzig over the weekend, but failed to make a major impression in yesterday’s World Cup Qualifier.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland has taken over international team selection duties from the Show Jumping Association of Ireland.

NEW SJAI chairperson Patricia Furlong and acting SJAI director general Liz Pottie will today discuss a road plan for show jumping when they meet Irish Sports Council chief executive John Treacy.

KEVIN BABINGTON says he would welcome the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) taking over selection of the senior show jumping team from the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI).

JESSICA KÜRTEN’S World Cup ambitions have taken a setback following a fall prior to Christmas.

TAYLOR VARD has spurned a bid by the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) to have him withdraw his resignation as chairman of the senior selectors.

A MEETING between Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) chairman Charles Hanley and Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) president Charles Powell aimed at smoothing relations between the two bodies failed to materialise yesterday, following the leaking this week of a letter written by the SJAI interim chief executive Liz Pottie.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) could impose further sanctions on the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) if it refuses to agree to the demands of a document presented to the SJAI last Friday.

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.

THE chairman of the selectors for the senior international show jumping team has resigned.

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.

THE Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) will take the first step in the review of the selection process for senior nations cup teams by holding a meeting on October 10.

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.

THE chairman of the implementation group charged with setting up an umbrella body for equestrianism hopes to complete the group’s task by Christmas.

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.

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.

The president of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland has announced plans to order a review of the selection process for the Irish showjumping team.

John Tynan

John Tynan