If it counts for anything — and it should — Clare feel they are more deserving of their Munster final spot this year than last season’s appearance, according to Shane O’Donnell.

Top performances at the London Olympics, a Rolex FEI Show Jumping World Cup win, and Ireland reclaiming first place in world studbook eventing rankings, were reflected at the presentation of the Horse Sport Ireland 2012 Breeders’ Awards.

WHETHER it was by design, or co-incidental, one major theme emerged at last Tuesday’s National Equine Conference: The need for more thoroughbred blood in the sport horse population.

FLEXIBLE redeployment of staff will be “critical” to the maintenance of public services as tens of thousands of jobs are cut.

Jessica Kurten upped her status as favourite to capture the 2008 World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, when she streaked home to win tonight's second competition in the weekend series.