The year is getting off to a familiar start for Irish riders based in the US as the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) commences in Wellington, Florida today and continues for three months.

The Irish eventing team kept their nerve to hold onto the silver medal on the final day of the eventing competition at the World Equestrian Games in North Carolina yesterday where Pádraig McCarthy added to the Irish haul by claiming silver in the individual competition.

A flawless cross-country performance on Saturday has the Irish eventing team holding the silver-medal position going into today's show jumping decider at the world championships in Tryon, North Carolina.

The opening ceremony for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) took place last night in Tryon, North Carolina and the first of thirteen days of action gets underway today. Endurance, Reining and Dressage are the disciplines kicking things off and Ireland is represented in all three.

The Mitsubishi Motors meeting at Badminton brought its usual mix of drama and a touch of controversy at the weekend, and, all things considered, it was a satisfactory event for Irish riders.

Padraig McCarthy was on the Irish team that scored an historic win in Boekelo last year and, while he feels a repeat could not be dismissed this weekend, he said the ground conditions at the Dutch fixture could make for a different scenario.

Jonty Evans stole the show again yesterday in terms of the Irish eventing team, producing a double clear on Cooley Rorkes Drift to finish ninth in the individual classification.

Despite another superb display from Jonty Evans, Ireland’s hopes of eventing glory were dashed yesterday on a cross-country that lived up to predictions as being a true test of horse and rider.

Ireland eventing rider Jonty Evans was in high spirits last night after a superb dressage display left him provisional ninth in the individual standings and helped Ireland to fifth place in the battle for team honours.

It was a mixed bag for the Irish on the official opening day of action.

Irish Olympic eventing team rider Pádraig McCarthy said Monday’s cross-country phase will pose a major test for riders.

Talking to eventer Padraig McCarthy this week as he prepared for the startof Ireland’s Olympic challenge tomorrow, the conversation has a recurring theme: Positivity. 

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) yesterday listed Greg Broderick and MHS Going Global among the nominations for Ireland’s sole show jumping slot at the Olympics, but it is examining the horse’s eligibility amid speculation it may not comply with a rule on ownership.

Having not competed at the top level since last year, Greg Broderick and MHS Going Global laid down a late marker for Olympic selection yesterday, producing a double clear to help Ireland win the Furusiyya Series nations cup in a rain-soaked St Gallen, Switzerland.

Joseph Murphy was “really happy” after helping Ireland to a solid start that left them fifth of 11 teams in the European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle, Scotland, yesterday.

Greg Broderick was basking in the sunshine yesterday at Millstreet International Horse Show... and the fame.

Ireland eventing manager Nick Turner believes he has a “strong team of horses and riders” carrying Irish hopes in the nations cup at Aachen, Germany, this weekend.

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.

Many aspects of marriage are common to other relationships. If marriage is a matter of two people who love one another there is no problem.

Waterford 3-12 UCC 1-9: McGrath Cup final: Silverware in the southeast: Waterford collected a first McGrath Cup in over 30 years with an emphatic win over UCC in Fraher Field, Dungarvan on Saturday.

Taste of Success winner Padraig McCarthy now has €100,000 to spend, as well as having his product placed on the shelves of over 140 Lidl stores.

Maia Dunphy examines our concepts of beauty in the concluding episode of her series What Women Want on RTÉ2 on Thursday.

Ireland eventing coach Nick Turner is hopeful the good times will continue this weekend as he leads his charges in the Eventing Nations Cup final in Boekelo, the Netherlands.

Millstreet in Co Cork has won the right to stage the 2016 European Show Jumping Championships for Juniors, Young Riders and Children on Horses.

U14 Premier 1 football final: Beara 5-8 Éire Óg 3-7

A drunk driver who crashed on a Christmas night out causing the death of the love of his life was jailed for a year yesterday.

LOOK out for the sheets of Irish celebrity-designed wrapping paper that will be tucked inside your daily newspaper next week.

DAIRY farmers are outraged that Tipperary Co-op cut their September milk price at a time when producers in other jurisdictions are enjoying far higher returns, according to Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) dairy committee chairman Pat McCormack.

THE lord mayor of Cork is to co-ordinate financial aid to families who have suffered considerable loss from the November 19/20 flood.

THOUSANDS of consumers with cash-flow problems are expected to take up pre-paid gas meter systems, being rolled out outside the capital for the first time.

THE St Vincent de Paul Society last night warned that increases in welfare benefits would do little to help families meet the cost of fuel bills, after steep rises in the price of both electricity and gas.

THE first of several possible championship clashes between Kerry and Cork this year takes place at Dunmanway, Co. Cork tomorrow in the Munster inter-county vocational schools SFC final (2.30).

IF we had known what was to happen in the USA on September 11 last, and if we had then failed to do everything in our power to avert the disaster, it would have been criminal and sinful.