Horse Sport Ireland has not ruled out taking the case involving Cian O’Connor to the Swiss federal courts.

Some of the stranger stories from around the globe

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.

Tipperary’s Denis Lynch (All Star 5) also gets the nod from Ireland manager Robert Splaine.

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine clasped the Aga Khan Trophy yesterday at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show and declared that a medal at the European Championships in a fortnight is not an unrealistic hope.

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.

In the build-up to this year’s Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show in the RDS (which gets underway today), 20-year-old Bertram Allen has undoubtedly been the main focus of attention.

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.

Sam Watson is as confident as the capricious sport of eventing will allow that he will give a good account of himself when defending his CIC three-star title at Camphire International Horse Trials this weekend.

Bertram Allen is typically taciturn, even as he frequently proves himself one of show jumping’s most amazing talents, yet even he conceded the manner of his latest triumph in the Global Champions Tour in Paris was extraordinary.

Wartski: The First 150 Years, really is something of a jewel. Author Geoffrey Munn is a familiar face on the BBC’s Antique Roadshow, where he tenderly unveils precious jewellery and object d’art brought to the wobbling tables every season.

It may prove an omen that Cian O’Connor rides Good Luck in today’s Furusiyya Nations Cup at La Baule, France, but the Olympic bronze medallist believes the team has enough ability to create its own fortune.

Ireland manager Robert Splaine yesterday had one piece of advice for Bertram Allen going into next week’s World Cup final: Play your usual game, writes John Tynan.

Capt Michael Kelly enjoyed a bright couple of days on the Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, scoring a double. 

Show jumper Bertram Allen earned the keys to a car yesterday as he continued his drive to break into World top-10 by winning the grand prix at Dortmund, Germany.

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.

Equestrian: Horse Sport Ireland chairman Pat Wall yesterday said Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney is applying his own stamp to the sport horse sector strategic plan before its publication.

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

Shane Breen was taking a lead from his horse’s name yesterday as he prepared for the first Chinese leg of the Global Champions Tour.

Teenage show jumper Bertram Allen yesterday said he was "over the moon" following Sunday’s grand prix victory at the five-star Belgium nations cup show.

Single errors for both Denis Lynch and tyro Bertram Allen kept the Irish duo out of the shake-up in the grand prix in Lyon, France, yesterday.

Sam Watson proved best of the Irish at the European Eventing Championships in Malmo, Sweden, placing 21st, as the team finished seventh of 10 countries.

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.

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.

It was all about Das Auto yesterday for show jumper Cian O’Connor, who won a Golf GTI and promptly handed the keys to his groom.

Swiss-based show jumper Niall Talbot won the grand prix in Lisbon yesterday with Nicos de la Cense to round off a successful weekend for the Irish in the Portuguese capital.

It could be argued that Sam Watson’s single-mindedness at Ballindenisk last week cost him a shot at the €50,000 bonus on offer next September.

Hearts have told their supporters that that club is not in danger – despite administrators moving into Vladimir Romanov’s Lithuanian bank.

Christmas is all about tradition... and so it is with Cian O’Connor and Olympia.

Hearts have announced a resolution has been agreed with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in a dispute over tax and national insurance contributions.

Ireland’s show jumpers joined the Netherlands, Germany, the US, Belgium and Portugal in failing to make the second round of the five-star Promotional League Nations Cup at Gijon, Spain, on Saturday.

Para-Olympian Helen Kearney showed she has what it takes yesterday, when placing third in her grade on the second day of the team equestrian competition in London.

Cian O'Connor brought his Olympic bronze medal winning horse Blue Loyd out for this evening's Longines Grand Prix climax to the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show, and took home €30,000 for a third place finish.

Show jumper Denis Lynch has been required by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) to attend a meeting in Dublin today to put his case as to why he should be allowed to participate in the Olympics.

Denis Lynch has Lantinus and All Inclusive to choose from in the first round of tomorrow’s Global Champions Tour in Doha, Qatar, though yesterday he had yet to decide which horse to use.

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov has placed a £50m valuation on the Edinburgh club as he seeks a buyer.

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov has revealed he is considering selling the Edinburgh club after becoming disillusioned with football.

SHOW jumper Billy Twomey said a “few scrapes and cuts” to his horse Romanov were the reason he was disqualified from the €1 million Global Champions Tour contest at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday.

IRELAND’S eventers will be hoping a good performance in today’s cross-country will push them up the leaderboard at the European Championships in Luhmühlen, Germany, having finished a poor eighth of 10 countries after the dressage phase.

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov today attacked “fools and idiots” after defending his decision to remove Jim Jefferies as manager.

THIS week it emerged that:

IRELAND show jumping manager Robert Splaine has blended two debutants with three riders boasting vast experience in his nations cup squad for next week’s Dublin Horse Show.

LAST weekend’s Monte Carlo Global Champions Tour (GCT) contest caused difficulties across the board and Billy Twomey feels it would be unfair to draw conclusions from the performance of any horse, including his own Tinka’s Serenade.