After an injury-enforced lay-off Cian O’Connor is set for a return to jumping action this coming weekend in Germany. The Meath rider heads for Wiesbaden’s four-star meeting with his top horse Good Luck, along with Copain du Perchet and his newly-acquired Cybell.

Paul Kennedy is in line for his biggest team challenge to date when Ireland take on seven opponents in Friday’s important Division 1 Nations Cup of Italy in Rome.

Nations cups dominated last week’s show jumping headlines, but the international limelight over the next few days switches to the relatively new, mixed-nationality format that is the Global Champions League (GCL), writes Mike Dunne.

Ireland’s new show jumping team manager Rodrigo Pessoa maintains that Irish teams have been underperforming and says that his goal is to transfer good individual performances to better team effect.

A liaison group for top-ranked show jumpers has been established following a meeting last Monday.

“Today was her day,” declared show jumper Dermott Lennon of Loughview Lou-Lou after she carried him to victory last night in the five-star grand prix in Gijon, Spain.

Hopes are high that Ireland’s show jumpers will today repeat last year’s Nations Cup win at Dublin Horse Show and, while manager Robert Splaine was upbeat yesterday, he was saying little that might prove a hostage to fortune.

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine underwent surgery for a broken wrist this week, but Taylor Vard, his stand in for tomorrow’s Furusiyya Series nations cup in Ocala, Florida, is upbeat about sending him a nice get-well present.

Cork show jumper Billy Twomey won the grand prix in stunning fashion at the inaugural Liverpool International Horse Show last night.

Dermott Lennon placed second in the World Cup qualifier in Toronto, Canada, a fortnight ago with Loughview Lou Lou.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ruled out any chance of an extra place being created for Ireland in the show jumping competition at next year’s Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Local boy Billy Twomey delighted the capacity crowd at Millstreet International Horse Show yesterday when winning the €50,000 grand prix.

Millstreet International Horse Show begins in earnest today and the numbers tell the story: Over 6,000 entries, 1,300 stables, 110 competitions, 10 countries represented, and over €200,000 in prizemoney.

Ireland’s dominance of the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show came to end in yesterday’s feature €200,000 Longines Grand Prix, courtesy of American Kent Farrington.

The Irish team will take to the stage in today’s Furusiyya Series nations cup at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show aiming to continue some stellar performances by the home contingent.

Ireland is joint second-last in the Furusiyya Nations Cup Series, but it was news to Cian O’Connor yesterday.

Ireland eventing manager Nick Turner believes “there’s a lot to look forward to”, as he announced his squad for September’s European Championships at Blair Castle, Scotland.

Greg Broderick feels the current form of MHS Automatic justifies him being favourite to lift The Underwriting Exchange Grand Prix at tonight’s final of the Jumping In The City Series at Shelbourne Park.

It may be over 20 years since Billy Twomey last competed in his native Cork city, but he had no problems recalling it yesterday, considering he won a puissance on a horse called Larry Hagman.

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine celebrated his birthday on Wednesday and, no doubt, he will be hoping his team present him with a suitable gift in today’s Furusiyya Series nations cup in St Gallen, Switzerland.

Eventer Sarah Ennis was “delighted” with her second place in the three-star class at Burgham Market in Northumberland yesterday, but even more so with the manner in which it was achieved.

Equestrian: Show jumpers Dermott Lennon and Paul O’Shea won feature classes on opposite sides of the Atlantic at the weekend.

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

Equestrian: US-based riders get the chance to show off their horsepower to Ireland manager Robert Splaine in today’s $200,000 Furusiyya Nations Cup opener in Ocala, Florida, though Kevin Babington got in early last night when winning the 1.50m grand prix qualifier on Mark Q.

Francis Connors retained his Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix League title at Banteer Show, Co Cork, yesterday.

It’s been 12 years since Thomas Ryan last competed at Millstreet International Horse Show, but he made sure his return was memorable yesterday by winning the Hyatt Hotels Grand Prix.

Ger O’Neill has a couple of reasons for believing he might win the championship for five-year-old horses at Millstreet International Horse Show.

Millstreet in Co Cork will resound to the hoof-beats of more than 1,200 equines this week, as the Cork town stages its annual international 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.

It might not have been Ladies Day at the Dublin Horse Show yesterday but sisters were still doing it for themselves.

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

The women of Ireland showed who were the real bosses of the Dublin Horse Show yesterday by taking centre stage from any visiting US rock star.

Show jumper Billy Twomey yesterday described himself as "disappointed" after he was replaced by manager Robert Splaine for tomorrow’s crucial nations cup contest at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

The first Irish equines exported to China under a ground-breaking protocol signed last July arrived last Monday.

Tipperary’s Shane Breen pocketed €10,500 yesterday with victory on Zarnita in the grand prix at St Lo, France.

It was a father/daughter affair for Britain’s legendary Whitaker family in the €50,000 Grand Prix at Millstreet International Horse Show yesterday, with Ellen winning the class and Steven taking the top prize in the Great Britain and Ireland Tour.

A beaming British show jumping manager Rob Hoekstra declared “we love this trophy” after his team yesterday claimed the famed ‘Aga Khan’ at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

Ireland’s show jumpers made it three wins in two days at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show yesterday, giving team manager Robert Splaine cause to be particularly upbeat ahead of today’s decisive nations cup contest.

“I was only in second gear,” joked Cian O’Connor yesterday after he got Ireland off to a winning start at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show, before Bertram Allen, made it two-in-a-row for the home side in the second international class.

Irish show jumpers plied their trade with success on both sides of the Atlantic at the weekend, notching up numerous victories.