Germany proved unstoppable in this year's Aga Khan Trophy competition at the Dublin Horse Show today finishing on an enviable score of just nine faults, their second consecutive Aga Khan Trophy win.

KILKENNY-born Marion Hughes had a quiet weekend at the three-star show in Vimeiro, Portugal until this evening, when she produced a devastating double clear round to win the Grand Prix.

SHOW JUMPER Sarah-Kate Quinlivan went one better at Newcastle West in Limerick yesterday, when winning the Spring Mount Grand Prix, having finished runner-up last year.

ELEVEN years ago, English event rider Matthew Wright came to Ballindenisk and was on his way to victory with his pony when he fell at the last fence.

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 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 chairman of the selectors for the senior international show jumping team has resigned.

JOHN LEDINGHAM and Robert Splaine are, as expected, the two front-runners for the post of Chef d’Equipe of the Irish Show jumping team following a meeting of riders and management in Dublin yesterday.

A FULL-TIME chef d’équipe for the senior Irish show jumping team is expected to be appointed this month.

ONE of the riders central to this year’s show jumping dispute over selection for Nations Cup teams is unable to attend a meeting set to kick-start a review of the contentious process.

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.

THE chairman of the implementation group charged with setting up an umbrella body for equestrianism hopes to complete the group’s task by Christmas.

Harry Marshall has been left out of the Ireland team travelling to Barcelona for next weekend's Samsung Super League Final.

HARRY MARSHALL has put his grievances with the Irish show jumping selectors aside temporarily and declared himself available for the Samsung Nations Cup Super League final in Barcelona in two weeks.

IN the gloom that has surrounded show jumping, there appeared a chink of light this week. Only time will tell if things get any brighter.

The row over the selection process for the Irish showjumping team reportedly remains deadlocked despite talks in Dublin yesterday aimed at defusing the situation.

EFFORTS to resolve the row that has beset Irish showjumping failed yesterday, with Jessica Kuerten and Harry Marshall declaring themselves unavailable for international team selection.

Caroline O’Doherty

John Tynan, Equestrian Correspondent

Two of Ireland’s top international showjumpers were today urged to put problems aside to line out for the Irish Team in next Friday’s German nations cup.

THE withdrawal of Cian O’Connor from the Irish team in next week’s Aachen nations cup can only be described as fate kicking us when we are down.

CIAN O'CONNOR offered to withdraw his name for selection for the last two Samsung Super League Nations Cup competitions this year in a bid to restore some harmony to Irish showjumping.

Threats were made against Irish international showjumper Cian O’Connor during the Dublin Horse Show last week, a senior equestrian official confirmed tonight.

Showjumper Cian O'Connor has rejected allegations that he interfered in the selection process for the Irish team in the Nations Cup event at the Dublin Horse Show.

John Tynan

John Tynan

Irish showjumping could become ungovernable if riders refuse to saddle up for their country because of team disputes, equestrian chiefs warned today.

TURMOIL and recrimination surfaced within the Irish show jumping camp again yesterday, with Harry Marshall the latest rider to pull out of the senior nations cup squad.

DERMOTT LENNON opened Ireland’s account at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show, racing to victory in the Speed Derby.

SHOW jumper Billy Twomey yesterday said Jessica Kürten was entitled to have differences of opinion with the Irish selectors and Cian O’Connor, but she should, nevertheless, have put aside her principles and lined out in Friday’s nations cup at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

SHOW JUMPER Jessica Kürten will not line out alongside Cian O’Connor and the rest of the Irish team in next week’s Dublin Horse Show.

IRELAND’S misery in the European Show Jumping Championships was complete yesterday, when the team was eliminated from the competition in San Patrignano, Italy.

IRELAND’S aspirations in the European Show Jumping Championships were dealt a crushing blow yesterday with the withdrawal of Clarion Hotels Coolcorron Cool Diamond and Roberts Splaine.

NEXT month’s Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show will carry a prize fund of €600,000, it was announced yesterday.

IRELAND’S flag bearers in next week’s European Show Jumping Championships gave themselves a timely fillip yesterday with a win and second place in the Netherlands.

THE international show jumping selectors grasped the nettle this week and teamed Jessica Kürten with Cian O’Connor for the nations cup at next month’s Dublin Horse Show.

THE possibility of a conflict in the Irish show jumping camp re-emerged yesterday with the selection of former Olympic champion Cian O’Connor and Jessica Kürten on the same team.

IRELAND’S showjumpers climbed out of the relegation zone in the Samsung Super League yesterday, when placed fourth in the Nations Cup at Rotterdam.