Equestrian: The precocious talent of show jumper Bertram Allen combined with the veteran experience of the stallion Romanov to beat the sport’s elite in the World Cup class in Bordeaux, France, on Saturday.

For a time it looked like some visitors might have to resort to transport of the four-legged variety to get to the Dublin Horse Show, which opens in Ballsbridge today.

Insurance is the biggest issue facing ShowjumpingIreland, according to Munster Region chairman Tony Hurley, after a quadrupling of the association’s premium to €625,000 for 2013.

Success eluded Cian O’Connor in London Olympia’s two feature classes at the weekend, following a lucrative visit to the festive showcase.

Show jumper Denis Lynch had his best World Cup result of the season yesterday when fifth in Stuttgart, Germany.

SHOW jumper Dermott Lennon moved to 11th in the World Cup’s Western European League yesterday when third with Hallmark Elite in a hard-fought contest at London’s Olympia.

CONTRASTING fortunes defined the opening day for Ireland’s World Cup challengers, with Billy Twomey finishing 16th in the first of three finals and Denis Lynch suffering elimination.

Ireland's Denis Lynch claimed a €23,000 victory in this afternoon's German Grand Prix at Wiesbaden, narrowly beating Germany's World No. 2 Marcus Ehning to the prize.

JESSICA KÜRTEN justified her favourite’s tag yesterday when she won the €130,000 Longines Grand Prix at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

Cian O'Connor chalked up Ireland's second weekend win at the five-star show in Aachen, Germany this morning with a three-fifths of a second victory over British ace John Whitaker in the 'Last Chance' 1m 45 class.

Ireland's Jessica Kurten took her first win of the weekend at Geneva, Switzerland this afternoon with a decisive victory in the big 1m50 jump-off competition, with Castle Forbes Vivaldo.

Jessica Kurten has come in equal second at the Swiss Life Challenge International Jumping Competition in Zurich.

IRELAND show jumping team manager Robert Splaine is not one for bombast, so it was not surprising yesterday to learn that his aims in today’s French nations cup are modest.

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.

JESSICA Kurten moved up one place to third in the overall rankings at the World Cup final in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

SHOW JUMPER Jessica Kürten partied in the Dubai Desert last night after winning show jumping’s richest prize.

JESSICA KÜRTEN jumped four flawless rounds yesterday to win the Dubai Masters at the Al Maktoum Memorial Challenge and give herself the perfect fillip ahead of today’s cash-rich grand prix.

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.

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.