IRELAND finished seventh yesterday in a closely-fought Alltech European Show Jumping Championships in Windsor, England, despite a spirited second-round effort.

US-BASED show jumpers Shane Sweetnam and Kevin Babington are among a five-man squad named yesterday for next week’s Meydan Nations Cup Series opener in La Baule, France.

FIRST-ROUND clears from Kevin Babington and Shane Sweetnam helped Ireland finish joint second in the USA Nations Cup in Florida on Friday night, just one fault separating them from winners Canada.

DESPITE racking up 41 faults, Ireland’s show jumpers placed second to France in the nations cup at Zagreb yesterday.

THE IRISH show jumping squad will this afternoon attempt to increase their lead in the 2007 FEI Nations' Cup League when they compete against 12 other teams for the Zagreb Nations' Cup in Croatia.