Ireland’s team of Patricia Ryan, Niall Griffin, Geoffrey Curran, Louise Lyons and Austin O’Connor finished eighth with 276.10 points after the showjumping phase of the equestrian competition in Hong Kong today.

Horse Sport Ireland coach Ginny Elliott was still optimistic this morning about Ireland's hopes after the dressage phase of the Three Day Event in Hong Kong left the team in tenth place of eleven teams competing.

A record number of Irish riders will line out this weekend at one of the world's top three-day Events, Britain's four-star Badminton, the biggest paid-in sports event in the UK, with over a quarter of a million spectators expected on the cross country course.

THE squad charged with carrying the Irish flag in next week’s European Eventing Championships in Punchestown was named this week following a final outing in Annaharvey.

AN Irish team that on paper condescended to be weak, tore up the script when it came second in last weekend’s Samsung Super League Nations Cup in Rome.