Kevin Babington rounded off a brilliant weekend for Irish show jumping when second in the $150,000 Ocala Grand Prix in Florida, last night.

The Alltech World Equestrian Games (WEG) begin in Normandy, France, today, with 21 riders carrying Irish hopes.

Dublin Horse Show

Ireland show jumping team manager Robert Splaine was far from defeatist after his team’s disappointing performance in yesterday’s Furusiyya Nations Cup at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

Cian O’Connor is countenancing no suggestion but victory in today’s Furusiyya Series Nations Cup at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

Shane Sweetnam may have offloaded his top ride last year, but that does not mean he is ready to relinquish his position as a stalwart of the Irish team.

Ireland eventing manager Nick Turner conceded he “had to make a few difficult phonecalls in the last few days” as he finalised his squad for next month’s European Championships.

It could be argued that Sam Watson’s single-mindedness at Ballindenisk last week cost him a shot at the €50,000 bonus on offer next September.

SENIOR rider Michael Ryan says Eventing Ireland must have good cause if it chooses to redirect the money it annually allocates for high performance.

DENIS LYNCH may have withdrawn from the Irish team, but it is not a case of no way back.

SARAH WARDELL yesterday took the first step in making up for an aborted effort with Kincluny earlier this month at Burghley, by taking poll position on day one of the CCI three-star at Ballindenisk, Co Cork.

CAPTAIN GEOFF CURRAN and eventing high performance manager Ginny Elliot are confident the Army officer’s mount, The Jump Jet, will be fighting fit for the Alltech World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

MICHAEL RYAN was yesterday named among the six eventing riders to carry Irish hopes in the Alltech World Equestrian Games (WEG), which begin this month in Kentucky and he took the opportunity to highlight the importance of the Cork venue, Ballindenisk, to the sport in Ireland.

SHOW jumper Dermott Lennon yesterday demonstrated in style that he and Hallmark Elite were suffering no ill-effects from their travails at last week’s Hickstead.

SHANE BREEN yesterday gave Ireland the perfect start at Hickstead ahead of today’s nations cup, taking two of the three international classes.

HORSE SPORT IRELAND is seriously considering making a bid to stage the 2014 World Equestrian Games (WEG), according to its chairman Joe Walsh.

SHANE BREEN, the rider hurriedly drafted into the Irish squad for tomorrow’s nations cup competition at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show, gave the home side its best result in yesterday’s feature Irish Sports Council Classic when seventh.

CONOR SWAIL won the Boswell Grand Prix League on a fitting note yesterday when victorious in the penultimate round at Iverk Show, Piltown, Co Kilkenny.

IRELAND’S eventing team coach Lars Christensson yesterday said the riders at this week’s World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany were aiming for the best result in honour of Sherelle Duke, who died tragically last weekend.

SHOWJUMPER Marie Burke hopes her third place in yesterday’s Longines Grand Prix at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show will earn her a place in Ireland’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) squad.

MARION HUGHES is hoping that a good result in the nations’ cup at next week’s Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show will alleviate the pressure in the Samsung Super League and allow Ireland to focus fully on the World Equestrian Games.

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

THE decision not to send a showjumping team to the cash-rich Spruce Meadows show in Calgary next week was based on the desire to do well at the World Equestrian Games, according to Peter Charles.