THE bright orange of the Netherlands shone in the Meydan FEI Nations Cup at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show yesterday, but a superb comeback by the Irish, featuring clear rounds from Cian O’Connor and a pain-wracked Denis Lynch gave the crowd plenty to cheer about.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is set to give a first start to January transfer window signing Michel in tomorrow evening’s Barclays Premier League clash at Portsmouth.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has challenged the club’s prospective new owner Carson Yeung to swiftly resolve his future after seeing Bolton’s request to speak to him turned down.

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.

CO. DOWN -born Conor Swail walked away with the Grand Prix trophy at the five-star show in Gijon, Spain tonight after two fault-free rounds on the nine year-old Dutch-bred ‘Rivaal’.

HARRY MARSHALL has put his grievances with the Irish show jumping selectors aside temporarily and declared himself available for the Samsung Nations Cup Super League final in Barcelona in two weeks.