Show jumper Kevin Babington spent a brief spell in a water jump on Sunday, but he made sure it didn’t dampen his day as he went on to win the $250,000 Hampton Classic in New York.

A Catholic priest was jailed today for indecently assaulting three sisters at their home in the North more than 40 years ago after befriending their parents.

CIARAN GLYNN took over the best-of-the-Irish mantle in the HSBC World Cup Qualifier at Tattersalls, Co Meath, yesterday, when slotting into eighth at the end of the dressage phase.

US-BASED show jumpers Shane Sweetnam and Kevin Babington are among a five-man squad named yesterday for next week’s Meydan Nations Cup Series opener in La Baule, France.

After a week of assessment in Wellington, Florida, Irish Show Jumping team manager Robert Splaine today announced his team to compete in the US Nations' Cup on Friday, March 7.

IN Friday’s equestrian column, in an interview with top Irish show jumper Kevin Babington, it was stated that: “Babington said he could see no reason why Splaine should be chef d’equipe” to the Irish team.

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).

PERHAPS it was an early celebration ahead of St Patrick’s Day, but Ireland’s show jumpers ensured Florida was green last Sunday when winning the first Samsung Nations Cup of the season.

IRELAND'S show jumping chef d'equipe designate Eddie Macken answered his detractors in emphatic fashion at the weekend as he led a makeshift team to victory in the Nations Cup at Wellington, Florida.

KEVIN BABINGTON is reserving his firepower until Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Florida as he bids to book his ticket for the final.

KEVIN BABINGTON pauses — he is reluctant to talk about Cian O’Connor.

IRELAND’S Nations Cup campaign could be without the services of Kevin Babington this season, transport costs for Carling King threatening his participation.

A former health board chief and a solicitor were among six Northern Ireland judicial appointments today.

Carrick-on-Suir native Kevin Babington admitted that the pressure got to him in last night's show jumping team final, but, having qualified joint-fifth for the individual decider, his thoughts have zoned in on Friday's medal hunt.

Ireland's show jumpers put in an impressive display in last night's Olympic team final, as Jessica Kuerten's inspired clear round saw them rise two places to seventh under the floodlights of the Markopoulo centre.

Kevin Babington celebrated his 36th birthday in style at the Markopoulo centre, as he guided his mount Carling King to an individual fourth and qualified Ireland as ninth of 10 nations for tonight’s Show Jumping team final.

“ONE of the better ones” was Kevin Babington’s description this week of his superb win in Sunday’s La Baule Grand Prix with the ever-reliable Carling King.

A cleaner who claims she was pressurised into quitting her job at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast phoned the Dean sobbing that she did not want to leave, a tribunal heard today.

KEVIN BABINGTON and Carling King produced one of only two double clears yesterday to help Ireland finish fifth in the European Show Jumping Championships in Donaueschingen, Germany.

IRELAND’S Billy Twomey jumped one of only three double clear rounds in the Samsung Grand Prix at Dublin Horse Show yesterday only to be beaten by the pace of Dutchman Wim Schroder and Eurocommerce Montreal.

SHOWJUMPER Kevin Babington is cautiously optimistic Ireland will carry off the Aga Khan trophy at the Dublin Horse Show on Friday.

IT was Ireland über alles in Germany last weekend, when our show jumpers notched up a superb Nations Cup double.

IRELAND won the Aachen Nations Cup in Germany yesterday afternoon — though they had to wait until the competition’s last rider knocked the last fence to claim victory.

ROBERT SPLAINE yesterday led an Irish rout in the grand prix at St Gallen, Switzerland.

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.

IRELAND’S showjumping strength in depth was evident last weekend in Florida when a team riding borrowed horses was pipped by America’s top riders in a nations cup.

CIAN O'CONNOR produced a performance of courage at Hickstead yesterday as he secured the competition's sole double-clear to take Ireland within a whisker of landing a hat trick in the Samsung Nations Cup.

Irish pair Kevin Babington and Carling King galloped to victory in the Virtual Village British Grand Prix at Hickstead.