The UK was today bracing itself for the return of heavy snow in the next 48 hours.

Equestrian authorities in America are to pay tribute to a popular young Irish showjumper who died this week after suffering a massive heart attack.

Irish showjumper Niall Grimes dies suddenly in Kentucky yesterday.

Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) Secretary General Dan Butler has announced he will be leaving the organisation at the end of October to pursue other business interests.

Ireland's show-jumping team today lost its last chance of qualifying for the 2008 Olympics when it failed to stay in the top 10 after the first round of the team championship at Mannheim, Germany.

THREE years on from the train bombings that killed 191 people and injured more than 1,800, Spain’s political and social wounds are still aching, and the country is torn by a host of conspiracy theories.

THE chairwoman of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI), Patricia Furlong, yesterday welcomed the latest moves at the formation of an umbrella body for equestrianism.

SHOW jumper Jessica Kurten put in another flawless performance in the World Cup final at Kuala Lumpur yesterday, but it was not enough to catch leader, Germany’s Marcus Ehning (Sandro Boy) and the Antrim rider finished in second place.

AN air of expectation more so than optimism permeated the select group at the Equestrian Federation of Ireland’s (EFI) presentation of its jumping committee last Monday.

ROBERT SPLAINE was yesterday officially installed as the manager to the Irish showjumping team and he said his priorities were to stay in the Samsung Nations Cup Super League and to finish in the top five of September’s World Equestrian games, thus qualifying for the Bejing Olympics.

THE plans of Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) secretary general Dan Butler for Irish international participation this year are coming to fruition.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) has received more than one application for the post of team manager to the Irish international show jumping team

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland has taken over international team selection duties from the Show Jumping Association of Ireland.

NEW SJAI chairperson Patricia Furlong and acting SJAI director general Liz Pottie will today discuss a road plan for show jumping when they meet Irish Sports Council chief executive John Treacy.

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).

A MEETING between Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) chairman Charles Hanley and Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) president Charles Powell aimed at smoothing relations between the two bodies failed to materialise yesterday, following the leaking this week of a letter written by the SJAI interim chief executive Liz Pottie.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) could impose further sanctions on the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) if it refuses to agree to the demands of a document presented to the SJAI last Friday.

THE formal ratification of Robert Splaine as chef d’equipe to the senior show jumping team may not take place until January, as the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) has not scheduled an executive meeting until the New Year.

THE Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) will take the first step in the review of the selection process for senior nations cup teams by holding a meeting on October 10.

RELIEF was the overwhelming feeling emanating from the Irish camp in the final of the Samsung Super League final in Barcelona last Sunday, following the team’s battling performance. But the sense of satisfaction at a task completed was also palpable.

The European Union constitution faced its first test at the grass-roots level today as Spaniards started a referendum vote, with the prospect of low turnout threatening to get the landmark document off to a sluggish start.

Outraged Morocco has dubbed a surprise military assault by helicopter-borne Spanish troops who recaptured a disputed Mediterranean island an act of war.