Paul Beecher yesterday claimed the famous Hickstead Derby for only the 13th time for Ireland in its 52-year history.

WHETHER it was by design, or co-incidental, one major theme emerged at last Tuesday’s National Equine Conference: The need for more thoroughbred blood in the sport horse population.

THE Showjumping Ireland (SJI) national executive is to meet on October 6, when they will discuss the directive given by members at Tuesday’s AGM that fines and sanctions be scrapped for members and officials who participated at last month’s “independent” Millstreet Show.

JESSICA KÜRTEN emerged this week as the number two ranked show jumper in the world. No mean feat, it came as little surprise following her string of wins against the sport’s elite, including victory in the Dubai Grand Prix, the world’s richest show jumping contest.

Niall Murray, Education Correspondent