Show jumper Shane Sweetnam just missed out on a €50,000 bonus when winning the puissance class at the nations cup show in Rome on Saturday.

Eventing rider Sam Watson pulled off a stunning recovery to finish eighth in the three-star at Saumur, France, yesterday.

IRELAND show jumping manager Robert Splaine hopes the Army Equitation School can boost Ireland’s chances of qualifying two riders for the Olympics by loaning one of its top horses, Annestown, to Billy Twomey.

IRELAND can win the FEI Nations Cup Series at next week’s final leg in Rotterdam, but manager Robert Splaine has opted for a squad that shows his main focus remains next month’s European Championships.

AN “independent” review of ShowjumpingIreland’s (SJI) insurance policy has been initiated by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI).

CIAN O’Connor is confident Larkhill Cruiser can rise to the occasion when he makes his nations cup debut in today’s FEI Top League opener in La Baule, France.

SHOW jumper Billy Twomey danced to his first Global Champions Tour win at the weekend in Valencia, Spain, on the appropriately named Je t’Aime Flamenco.

DENIS LYNCH will be aiming to further repair his “dented pride” this weekend when he lines out in the second leg of the Global Champions Tour (GCT) in Valencia, Spain.

WITH €475,000 on offer in tomorrow night’s Global Champions Tour opener in Doha, riders will not be lacking in incentive.

CIAN O’CONNOR gave himself an early Christmas present yesterday, winning the Welcome Stakes on the first day of the London International Horse Show in Olympia.

SHOW jumper Billy Twomey looked to be motoring in the €150,000 grand prix at the Audi Masters in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday until an unexpected two refusals with Je t’Aime Flamenco at the double put the brakes on his effort.

CONSIDERING Billy Twomey’s wealth of talent, it is a surprise to find he has never contested a World Cup final.

JIM NEWSAM did not get his wish for a “Down double” yesterday, even if he played his part by winning the CCI three-star at Ballindenisk International Horse Trials in Cork.

SARAH WARDELL yesterday took the first step in making up for an aborted effort with Kincluny earlier this month at Burghley, by taking poll position on day one of the CCI three-star at Ballindenisk, Co Cork.

DENIS LYNCH, Cian O’Connor and Billy Twomey were yesterday named by Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine to be part of his squad for the Alltech World Equestrian Games, which begin next month.

BILLY TWOMEY almost gave Irish fans the perfect ending yesterday to the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show but, in the end, he had to settle for third in the feature event, the €200,000 Longines Grand Prix.

HAVING won the German Nations Cup two weeks ago, Ireland’s show jumpers were given a reality check yesterday, when they finished a disappointing sixth in the British equivalent at Hickstead.

SHANE BREEN yesterday gave Ireland the perfect start at Hickstead ahead of today’s nations cup, taking two of the three international classes.

Horse Sport Ireland Team Manager Robert Splaine has announced his team for the Nations' Cup at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show on Friday, August 7.

DENIS LYNCH is adamant Ireland can avoid relegation from the Meydan Nations Cup Series.

IRELAND’S show jumpers put in a battling performance to finish third in the nations cup at Lummen, Belgium, yesterday, despite elimination for pathfinder Cian O’Connor and Splendor.

JESSICA KÜRTEN qualified for the World Cup final last Sunday and then declared her surprise at the achievement.

THE Federation Equestre International (FEI) says it will issue a judgment in the case involving show jumper Denis Lynch today.

SHOW JUMPER Billy Twomey believes his victory in the grand prix at the Horse of the Year Show is proof his stallion, Je T’Aime Flamenco, has the potential to go all the way.