DERMOTT LENNON WINS OLYMPIA GRAND PRIX

DERMOTT Lennon from County Down tonight (Monday) won the Olympia Grand Prix in London with the Irish-bred mare Loughview Lou Lou. Lennon, a former world champion, beat 32 of the world's best riders to take the 24,000 euro first prize.

The 42 year-old was the only Irish competitor to make the cut for the 11 horse jump-off, and set an early second round lead that proved unbeatable, with only Spain's Manuel Anon and the mare Rackel Chavannaise coming close, taking the runner-up spot a fifth of a second behind Lennon.

The Banbridge-based rider had also taken a third place in Sunday's big Rolex World Cup class at the London venue with Woods Rosbotham's Hallmark Elite, and had another win with Loughview Lou Lou in Thursday's jump-off competition.

Afterwards Lennon said: "Loughview Lou Lou is a very competitive horse and she is naturally fast but I was really delighted with the way she jumped tonight. I got her a year ago and she has been steadily progressing since her first win at Maubeuge in France in May of this year. But I have to say it's fantastic to see an Irish-bred horse back winning a five-star Grand Prix like this. She was just super."

Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh said tonight: "This is a brilliant result for Ireland and I want to congratulate Dermott Lennon and the mare's owner and breeder Judith Sossick. It is a great boost for the sector."

IRELAND FINISH SEVENTH AT ST. GALLEN, NOW SECOND IN SUPERLEAGUE

IRELAND dropped just one place from their pole position in the world show jumping Superleague after finishing seventh in the third leg of the Nations' Cup series at St. Gallen in Switzerland this afternoon (Friday).

With two riders and three horses making their debut at Superleague level, the Irish team completed the two rounds on a total of 35 faults, but the points gained left them second overall in the FEI leaderboard, behind the Netherlands, who won the Nations' Cup today on a total of five faults.

Ireland had won the opening Superleague leg at La Baule in France last month, and were third in Rome last week.

Ireland's best score today came from the experienced Limerick-born Shane Sweetnam and 'Amaretto Darco' who had one jumping fault and one time fault in the first round and picked up a single time fault on their second outing.

Meath's Alexander Butler, making his Superleague debut with the Irish-bred 'Will Wimble' had just four faults on his first round, but trouble at the water jump left him as the discard score in the second round with 23 faults. Jennifer Crooks and 'SF Uryadi', also first-timers at this level, had eight faults in the first round, but just four in the second. Jessica Kurten had two jumping mistakes in the first round on 'API Largo', and did not improve on her second attempt, picking up 13 faults.

Team Ireland Equestrian's show jumping manager Robert Splaine said after the competition: "It was tough today. But we had three new horses and two riders making their debut at this level. It is all in keeping with our policy of building towards the European championships in Madrid later this year and the all important prospect of Olympic qualification.

"We've slipped a place in the overall standings but we have a win and a third under our belt. Now, with a month to plan the next campaign, we are in a satisfactory place at this point."

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO5* ST GALLEN SWITZERLAND JUNE 2-5 2011

FEI Nations Cup
Table A in two Rounds (Art. 264.9.2.1)
1m60
Friday June 3 2011

1) Netherlands 5 faults
=2) Great Britain 8 faults
=2) Switzerland 8 faults
4) United States 16 faults
5) France 20 faults
6) Belgium 22 faults
7) Ireland 35 faults
Alexander Butler/Will Wimble (ISH) 4/23
Jennifer Crooks/SF Uryadi 8/4
Jessica Kurten/API Largo 8/13
Shane Sweetnam/Amaretto Darco 5/1
8) Denmark 45 faults
9) Germany Retired faults

**Switzerland jumped as the host nation, but are not part of the 2011 Superleague**

RELAND WINS DUTCH NATIONS' CUP

European Pony Champion Bertram Allen (Left) formed part of yesterday's winning Nations Cup team at Wierden

IRELAND'S pony team were victorious in the Dutch Nations' Cup at Wierden in the Netherlands today (Thursday) romping home with two fences in hand to beat challengers Belgium.

With eight nations competing on a strong technical course, the German and Swedish teams did not qualify for the second round, but Ireland  sailed through on just four faults.

With Bertram Allen and 'Acapella Z' delivering a clear second round, followed by another zero score from Tom Foley with 'Crown Jewel', clear first-rounders Max O'Reilly Hyland and 'Rock Dee Jay' had a single mistake, to give Ireland a two-round total of just eight faults.

Emma O'Dwyer and the Irish-bred gelding 'Jacknell Street', who had jumped clear first time out, did not need to jum again to ensure the Irish victory.

This was Ireland's second consecutive team win at Wierden, having also claimed the Pony Nations' Cup in 2010.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIOP/J/Y WIERDEN NETHERLANDS JUNE 2-5 2011

PONY NATIONS' CUP
International Jumping Competition
FEI Art. 264, 1m30
Thursday, June 2, 2011

1) IRELAND 8 faults
BERTRAM ALLEN/ACAPELLA Z 8/0
TOM FOLEY/CROWN JEWEL 4/0
MAX O'REILLY HYLAND/ROCK DEE JAY 0/4
EMMA O'DWYER/JACKNELL STREET (ISH) 0/- (did not have to jump
second round)
2) Belgium 16 faults
=3)Switzerland and the Netherlands 20 faults
5) Denmark 45 faults
6) Italy 56 faults

Eight nations competed.

LYNCH WINS GERMAN QUALIFIER FOR SECOND YEAR

IRELAND'S Denis Lynch took home his second Mercedes-Benz SLK convertible from Hamburg today (Thursday) after winning the Grand Prix Qualifier - repeating his 2010 success at the same show.

Piloting Thomas Straumann's 13 year-old gelding  'Lantinus', who had been having a quiet year until now, the 35 year-old Tipperary rider was second last to go of the 14 who made it to jump-off, and his time of 45.30 seconds could not be caught.

Portugal's Luciana Diniz and 'Winningmood' placed second in the Qualifier, while Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and 'Checkmate' claimed third.

Lynch, who is currently ranked fifth in the world, took victory in Hamburg's Grand Prix Qualifier last year on another Straumann horse, 'Nabab's Son', collecting the first of his red convertibles as the winner's prize.

The Global Champions' Tour Grand Prix takes place in Hamburg on Saturday afternoon, with a 200,000 euro prize pot at stake.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI5* HAMBURG GERMANY JUNE 2-5 2011

Mercedes-Benz Championat of Hamburg
International Jumping Competition
Qualifier for the Grand Prix
FEI Art. 238.2.2
1m55
Thursday, June 2, 2011

1) Lantinus; Denis Lynch (IRL) Faults 0.0/0.00 Time 45.30
2) Winningmood; Luciana Diniz (POR) Faults 0.0/0.00 Time 46.36
3) Checkmate; Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) Faults 0.0/0.00 Time 47.96

52 starters

TWOMEY NOW WORLD NUMBER THREE

CORK's Billy Twomey is now the third-ranked show jumping rider in the world, according to information announced by the sport's world governing body yesterday evening (Wednesday), with Tipperary's Denis Lynch in fifth place.

Thirty four year-old Twomey gained vital Rolex World Ranking points from a recent run of successes on the international circuit with Sue Davies's 'Je t'Aime Flamenco' and 'Tinka's Serenade', while Lynch has continued to campaign consistently with Thomas Straumann's talented string of horses.

Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh said this morning: "For such a small nation, it is remarkable that we continue to dominate this sport in such a way. Not only are we the only country to have two riders in the world top five, but currently the Irish team is also top of the FEI Nations' Cup league, which features the world's best eight show jumping teams.

"Billy Twomey has contributed to his country's success with truly extraordinary performances in the last few months, and it comes as little surprise to me to see him achieve this new, and well-deserved, world ranking."

The Rolex World Jumping Rankings, compiled by the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) in Switzerland, also show Meath's Cian O'Connor achieving his highest-ever ranking, at 29th, while Jessica Kurten is also in the world top 50, in 46th place. Over 2,000 international riders are included in the Rolex monthly world rankings.

The world's top ranked show jumping rider is Canada's Eric Lamaze, with France's Kevin Staut in second position.

IRELAND STAY TOP OF SUPERLEAGUE AFTER ROME NATIONS CUP

Billy Twomey and Tinka's Serenade completed a fantastic double clear round in Friday's Nations Cup at Rome

IN a notable comeback at the Nations' Cup in Rome today (Friday) the Irish show jumping team finished in third position after placing sixth at the halfway mark, and added six points to their Superleague tally to remain best of the world's top eight show jumping nations.

With a remarkable double clear round from Cork's Billy Twomey and 'Tinka's Serenade', the Irish team finished on 21 faults, overtaking Britain, the United States and France on the demanding second round course at Rome's historic Piazza di Siena.

Pathfinders Shane Sweetnam and 'Amaretto Darco' halved their first round eight fault tally second time out, while Shane Carey with 'Lancero' had one jumping mistake in each round. Cameron Hanley and 'Southwind VDL' were the discard score with nine faults on both outings.

However, Twomey's zero score in both rounds was vital to the team's recovery, and ensured that Ireland held onto its number one position in the FEI Nations' Cup rankings, on 16 points. Ireland won the first leg of the 2011 series at La Baule, France two weeks ago, netting ten points.

Team Ireland Equestrian Team Manager Robert Splaine said: "I was very pleased with the team today, especially as the result keeps us top of the Superleague leaderboard. They fought back very strongly in the second round, but the water cost us a lot, and it was an exceptionally tough course. However, in the overall plan I learned a lot here today. The points gained in Rome will also act as a buffer in the event of a poor result later in the series."

The next Nations' Cup Superleague takes place at St. Gallen in Switzerland on June 3.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO5* ROME ITALY MAY 26-29 2011

NATIONS CUP OF ITALY
International Jumping Competition
Competition In Two Rounds
FEI Art. 264.9.2.1
1m60
Friday, May 27, 2011

1) NETHERLANDS 10
2) BELGIUM 14
3) IRELAND 21
Shane Sweetnam/Amaretto Darco 8/4
Shane Carey/Lancero 5/4
Cameron Hanley/ Southwind VDL 9/9
Billy Twomey/Tinka's Serenade 0/0
=4) GERMANY 23
=4) GREAT BRITAIN 23
=4) FRANCE 23
7) UNITED STATES 32
8) ITALY 52
9) DENMARK 55

Recent Premier Series Winners Cian O'Connor and Larkhill Cruiser recorded a Clear in the second round at La Baule today

THE Irish team of Shane Sweetnam, Billy Twomey, Cian O'Connor and Cameron Hanley pulled off a spectacular win in the first leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup Superleague in La Baule, France today, beating the world's other seven best teams when finishing on 13 faults.

A single time fault from Shane Sweetnam and 'Amaretto Darco' gave the Irish quartet a promising start, and four faults apiece from Billy Twomey and 'Romanov' and Cian O'Connor on the Irish-bred 'Larkhill Cruiser' set the team up for Cameron Hanley's zero score with 'Southwind VDL' to leave Ireland in equal second place at the halfway mark.

In a dramatic afternoon where deep shadows caused by bright sunshine spooked a significant number of experienced horses, leading to stops, run-outs and subsequent time penalties, the Irish managed to hold on to their low tally of penalties, with O'Connor's 'Larkhill Cruiser' delivering a second Irish clear round on its Nations' Cup debut to leave the team on 13 faults, just behind Belgium.

However Jos Lansink, Belgium's last man in, lowered two fences to put his team on a total of two penalties adrift of the triumphant Irish at the final bell. Germany placed third on 16 faults.

Team Ireland Equestrian show jumping manager Robert Splaine said afterwards: "This was a great win for Ireland, in the first leg of the 2011 Nations Cup league, and I have to applaud the commitment of the riders who made themselves available for their country today.

"There were great performances from everyone, but especially the Irish-bred Larkhill Cruiser, making his debut at this level and producing a vital clear round for the team. Olympic qualification is still my priority this year, but I am delighted with this start to the Nations Cup season."

The seventh leg of the Nations' Cup Superleague will be at the Dublin Horse Show in August.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO5* LA BAULE FRANCE MAY 12-15 2011

NATIONS CUP OF FRANCE
International Jumping Competition
Table A in two Rounds (Art. 264.6, 264)
1m60
Friday, May 13, 2011

1) Ireland 13 faults
Amaretto Darco/Shane SWEETNAM 1/4
Romanov II/Billy TWOMEY 4/4
Larkhill Cruiser (ISH)/Cian O'CONNOR 4/0
Southwind Vdl/Cameron HANLEY 0/17
2) Belgium 15 faults
3) Germany 16 faults
4) Great Britain 18 faults
=5) United States 20 faults
=5) Netherlands 20 faults
7) France 22 faults
8) Denmark (Retd.)

TWOMEY NOW SOLE IRISH HOPE FOR WORLD CUP FINAL AFTER LYNCH ELIMINATED

A FALL by Tipperary's Denis Lynch at today's (Thursday) first World Cup Final qualifying competition at Leipzig in Germany means that Cork-born Billy Twomey will be Ireland's only hope for success in the two remaining competitions.

Lynch, 34, lost his balance after an awkward landing by Thomas Straumann's gelding 'Abbervail van het Dingeshof' and was unseated. Under FEI rules this leads to automatic elimination, so the Irish rider will not be able to proceed to the next round on Friday.

Twomey and Sue Davies's chestnut mare 'Tinka's Serenade' had an unfortunate fence down during today's speed class, and finished in 16th place in the overall rankings. This means that the Irish rider must now try to achieve fault-free rounds in the remaining two competitions to be in with a chance of World Cup victory.

Last year's fifth-placed Irish finalist, Dermott Lennon, was in 13th position after the first day of the World Cup classes.

Today's qualifier at Leipzig saw Germany's Marco Kutscher take the lead with the bay gelding 'Cash'. Kutscher collected 25,000 euro for his win, and is now on 44 points, compared with Twomey's 28.

Friday's World Cup jump-off begins at 1.45pm Irish time. The final two rounds take place on Sunday.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI5*-W LEIPZIG GERMANY APRIL 27 - MAY 1 2011

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping
1st Qualification for the World Cup Final
Jumping competition against the Clock - Table C
FEI Art. 239/263 - Art. 659.1.2.2
1m55
Thursday April 28, 2011

1) Cash; Marco  Kutscher (GER) Faults 0.00 Time 63.55
2) Sabrina; Marcus  Ehning (GER) Faults 0.00 Time 63.79
3) Taloubet Z; Christian  Ahlmann (GER) Faults 0.00 Time 64.03

16) Tinka's Serenade; Billy Twomey (IRL) Faults 4.00 Time 71.02

43 starters

 LYNCH NETHERLANDS WORLD CUP WIN GIVES IRELAND TWO CONTENDERS FOR FINAL

A VICTORY by Tipperary's Denis Lynch in this afternoon's World Cup Qualifier in the Netherlands now means that Ireland will have two competitors amongst the elite 18 riders who go through to the World Cup Final at Leipzig in Germany next month.

A thrilling finish saw the 34 year-old take the lead with Thomas Straumann's gelding 'Abbervail van het Dingeshof' halfway through the big 17 horse jump-off, but despite the best efforts of Europe's other top riders, Lynch held onto his advantage to take the 58,000 euro first prize and vital World Cup ranking points that will ensure his inclusion in the Leipzig final, catapulting him from a rank of 30th to 15th overall.

Ireland's other World Cup finalist will be Cork's Billy Twomey, who is now 5th in the rankings after finishing 11th at s-Hertogenbosch today with Sue Davies's stallion 'Je t'Aime Flamenco'.

After receiving his prize today Lynch joked: "I've been trying for this for the last 15 years - it's about time I won a World Cup Qualifier."

And Team Ireland Equestrian's show jumping manager Robert Splaine added his congratulations to the plaudits pouring in for the Tipperary rider. He said today: "This was a superb performance from Denis this afternoon. I'm absolutely delighted that he's qualified. Ireland has never won a World Cup Final, but with Denis and Billy now in the competition, both with superb horses, this could very well be our year."

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI5*-W S-HERTOGENBOSCH NETHERLANDS MARCH 24-27 2011

Rolex FEI World Cup Qualifier
International Jumping Competition
Table A with Jump Off
1m60
FEI Art. 238.2.2
Sunday March 27, 2011

1) Abbervail van het Dingeshof; Denis Lynch (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 40.66
2) BMC van Grunsven Simon; Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 40.97
3) VDL Groep Utascha SFN; Eric  van der Vleuten (NED) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 41.74

11) Je t'Aime Flamenco; Billy Twomey (IRL) Faults 0.00/4.00 Time 42.70

40 starters

MOLONEY WINS FRENCH GRAND PRIX AFTER SUCCESSFUL WEEK

IRELAND'S reigning National Showjumping Champion Eddie Moloney rounded off a successful week in the south of France when he streaked home with well over two seconds in hand to win the Vidauban Grand Prix this afternoon (Sunday) on his own nine year-old Irish-bred gelding 'Slieveanorra'.

Beating British challenger Graham Lovegrove, the Kilkenny rider picked up 6,000 euro for his win in the eight horse jump-off, adding to his prize money from other successes in the last three days.

Earlier this morning he had a win in the 1m35 speed class with Tom McGurk's mare 'Foxy Cleopatra', and yesterday took a third place with John McDonald's Irish-bred gelding 'Chatsworth Dan'.

On Friday, the 34 year-old piloted his own chestnut gelding 'Slieveanorra' in the 1m50 Two Phase competition, picking up a fourth place when finishing one-and-a-half seconds off the pace of French winner Bruno Jazede.

Earlier, he claimed the runner-up spot in the 1m45 competition aboard Tom McGurk's Aladatus Z mare 'Macushla R'.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI3* VIDAUBAUN FRANCE MARCH 24-27 2011

GRAND PRIX
International Jumping Competition
Table A with One Jump Off Against The Clock
1m50
FEI Art. 238.2.2
Sunday March 26, 2011

1) SLIEVEANORRA (ISH Voltaire x Creevagh Quaich); Edward MOLONEY (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 43.01
2) TIN TIN; Graham LOVEGROVE (GBR) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 45.50
3) UPPIE DE LIS; Paul FRIEMULLER (SUI) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time (Not yet available)

60 starters

IRISH TEAM NAMED FOR FIRST NATIONS CUP IN FLORIDA TONIGHT

Paul O'Shea and Phyliss Agnew's Realman will form the third leg of tonights Nations Cup Team in Florida

FRIDAY night sees the first Irish team line out for the 2011 Nations' Cup season, which starts in Wellington, Florida with the Nations' Cup of America.

Team Ireland Equestrian's show jumping manager Robert Splaine has announced his team jumping order, which will be:
Darragh Kenny: Gael Force (ISH)
Jennifer Crooks : SF Uryadi
Paul O'Shea: Realman
Shane Sweetnam: Rolette

Ireland has been drawn seventh of eight teams competing for the four-star trophy, and the stiff competition will include strong teams from Britain, Canada and the USA.

Limerick's Paul O'Shea lifted Irish spirits last night (Wednsday) when he was outright winner of the $5,000 Welcome Stakes competition at the Palm Beach venue, riding 'Daydream St. Ghyvan Z'. Wellington will be his 10th Nations' Cup appearance for Ireland and he said after yesterday's win: "Nations' Cups are very special to Irish people. It's a big deal for us, and it's what we all aim for. We like to ride for our country and it's a big honor,"

The Nations' Cup begins just before midnight on Friday, Irish time, but can be followed on live video at www.usefnetwork.com

TRM NATIONAL GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONS WINS IN FLORIDA

TRM National Grand Prix Champions Paul O'Shea and Day Dream St Ghyvan make the best possible start to their time in Florida

The first week of competition at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday afternoon with an exciting $30,000 Speed Derby held in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The class was won by an extremely fast round from Irish rider Paul O'Shea and Daydream St. Ghyvan Z, owned by Paul Clarke and Michael Walsh. Both competing for the first time in the United States this winter, horse and rider had a fantastic class and were awarded the top prize.

Twenty-six entries started the $30,000 Speed Derby class, showing over a course set by Anthony D'Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. In a Table III, faults converted format, the challenging course saw many rails come down, but it was the horses and riders that jumped clear that finished in the top standings.

Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and HH Palouchin, owned by Double H Farm, set a blazing fast time right from the start going second in the order and finishing in 77.783 seconds. Although that time held through most of the class, the last few rounds were even faster and Pessoa finished the class in fourth place.

Beezie Madden (USA) and Neapolitan Holding Co., LLC's Prima clocked in at 76.867 seconds to place third, and Hillary Dobbs (USA) and The Dobbs Group's Marengo finished in 76.215 seconds for second place. No one could beat Paul O'Shea's time however, as he and Daydream St. Ghyvan Z laid down a nearly flawless round going 22nd
in the order and stopping the clock in 75.222 seconds for the win.

This is Paul O'Shea's first year competing at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival and also his horse's first time competing in the U.S. Both horse and rider have had great success showing in Ireland and have now had a fantastic start to their winter in Florida.

Daydream St. Ghyvan Z is a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Darco x Ramiro Z). O'Shea has been riding the mare for four years, and the pair has earned many accolades together. In 2010 the mare had six grand prix wins and three international wins in Ireland and was named the country's leading grand prix horse for the year. O'Shea had a great year as well, with nine grand prix wins and four international victories, along with winning the Premiere Series Grand Prix League and National Grand Prix League. After a visit to the U.S. last winter, O'Shea was invited to ride for legendary trainer and owner Harry Gill, and he jumped at the opportunity.
 
"I have been here for three or four months now and it is going great," he smiled. "I love working for Harry; he is a gentleman and he has a lot of nice young horses that we plan to bring along."

Speaking about today's class, O'Shea stated, "My horse jumped fantastic. I got off to a bad start myself; I did not ride very well over the first three fences, but it does not matter because she jumps them anyway. That's the thing about her, she is just a fantastic mare. I saw Rodrigo go and he was very quick, so I knew that I just had to go as quick as I could. I suppose I am lucky that I know her so well. His is a really fast horse, but she is just a super mare and she is very competitive."

This is just the third week that Daydream St. Ghyvan Z has been jumping in the United States and she and O'Shea have already placed fifth in two grand prix classes and now added a win to that list. "She is just very clever and she always gives 100%. She is an amazing mare and she always wants to do her best," O'Shea said, adding, "I love the speed derbies. She won the speed derby at the Dublin Horse Show last year and she won a speed derby in Italy as well two years ago, so she is good at them."

After a presentation and victory gallop for O'Shea, the Leading Lady Jumper Rider award was presented for week one competition at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties, the award went to Kate Levy (USA).

Also held on Sunday were the $10,000 Equifit High Junior Jumper Classic and the $10,000 Surpass Medium Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Showing first in the International Arena this morning, the High Junior Jumper win was awarded to Wilton Porter aboard Sleepy P Ranch LLC's Presidente. The Medium Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic was won by Jamie Walker riding her horse 7-Up.

The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival will continue with its second week of competition sponsored by Equine Couture and Tuff Rider on Wednesday, January 19, running through Sunday, January 23, 2011. Feature events will include the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 on Thursday afternoon, the $40,000 Equine Couture/Tuff Rider Grand Prix CSI 2* on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. (the first of the Saturday Night Lights events), and the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic on Sunday afternoon. The 2011 WEF will hold 12 consecutive weeks of competition for its winter show circuit, running through April 3, 2011.

For full results please visit www.shownet.biz or for more information, visit www.equestriansport.com.

Final Results: $30,000 Speed Derby
1 DAYDREAM ST. GHYVAN Z, PAUL O'SHEA (IRL), PAUL O'SHEA: 75.222
2 MARENGO, HILLARY DOBBS (USA), THE DOBBS GROUP: 76.215
3 PRIMA, BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), NEAPOLITAN HOLDING CO., INC.: 76.867
4 HH PALOUCHIN, RODRIGO PESSOA, (BRA) DOUBLE H FARM: 77.783
5 KATINA, ENRIQUE GONZALES (MEX), ENRIQUE GONZALES: 77.826
6 CACHETTE Z, KAREN POLLE (USA), KAREN POLLE: 79.196
7 SAMPRAS, CHARLIE JAYNE (USA), ALEX JAYNE: 79.461
8 FLIGHT, REED KESSLER (USA), REED KESSLER: 80.715
9 LENNOX LEWIS 2, LESLIE HOWARD (USA), LESLIE HOWARD: 80.769
10 VOCAS, MCLAIN WARD (USA), LOUISBURG FARM: 80.914
11 STARLIGHT, KATE LEVY (USA), KATE LEVY, LLC: 81.836
12 WHAT EVER, KAREN POLLE (USA), KAREN POLLE: 83.058

TWOMEY TRIUMPHANT IN FIVE STAR SWISS GRAND PRIX, WINS 70,000 EURO

IRELAND'S Billy Twomey snatched the 70,000 euro first prize in this afternoon's (Sunday) Grand Prix in Basel, Switzerland, beating German challenger Marcus Ehning by just three-tenths of a second.

The 33 year-old show jumper, currently ranked seventh in the World Jumping Rankings, piloted the 14 year-old mare 'Tinka's Serenade', which he owns jointly with Sue Davies.

Twomey was one of 16 top international riders in the St. Jakobshalle arena to make it through to the second round on a zero score from a start list of 47. After beating Ehning's time, the Cork-born rider then had to wait while another five combinations tried to best his effort, but none could produce the winning formula required.

Afterwards Team Ireland Equestrian's show jumping manager Robert Splaine said: "This was a top performance from a top man on a top horse. My congratulations go to Billy and his owners."

Earlier today at Basel, Ireland's Denis Lynch produced a third place in the jump-off class with Thomas Straumann's gelding "All Inclusive NRW".

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI5* BASEL SWITZERLAND JANUARY 13-16 2011

Basel Grand Prix
International Jumping Competition
Table A with Two Rounds
1m60
FEI Art. 273.3.3
Sunday January 16 2011

1) Tinka's Serenade; Billy Twomey (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 39.59
2) Noltes Kuchengirl; Marcus Ehning (GER) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 39.89
3) As-Taro; Luciana Diniz (POR) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 40.69

47 starters

IRELAND TAKES GOLD MEDAL AT WORLD UNIVERSITY EQUESTRIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN KOREA

IRELAND was triumphant at the World University Equestrian Championships in Korea today (Tuesday), taking both the Team Gold medal and the Silver Individual medal.

The team was Nicola Fitzgibbon (TCD), Ben Crawford (QUB), Sara Glynn (DIT) and reserve Suzie Cave (Open University).

Trained by international eventer Sue Shortt and also accompanied to Sangju in South Korea by Chef d'Equipe Natalie Quinlivan, the Irish trio produced the country's first ever University team gold, Ben Crawford having taken individual Gold at the last World Championships in Algeria two years ago.

The Individual Silver today was won by Sara Glynn of Killossery Stud, who was beaten by less than one per cent in dressage by Britain's Rebecca Woolven, who took Gold, while Ben Crawford was knocked out in the third round by Nicolette Schriber from the Netherlands, who claimed the Bronze medal, with Crawford ending up in fourth. Nicola FitzGibbon took seventh place overall.

Ireland was awarded the Team Gold medal after finishing in Silver Medal position in show jumping with all members in the top ten individually, and finishing fifth in Team Dressage. A total of 20 nations competed.

Chef d'Equipe Natalie Quinlivan said this morning from Sangju: "We've had a brilliant world championships, and it's a fantastic result from all team members, who were up against very substantial international teams from all over the globe."

The WUEC Irish Squad has expressed its thanks to sponsors Dubarry, Equestrian Jewellery and Elite Saddlery for their very generous support in addition to the assistance received from Horse Sport Ireland and the Colleges and Universities Sports Association of Ireland.

The Championships is a dual discipline comprising both dressage and show jumping with 20 nations competing from throughout Europe, USA, Canada and Asia, and takes place every two years.

Following the announcement of his retirement after winning the Swiss Pony Nations Cup, Ian Fearon said; ‘‘Not alone did we have a factastic European Championships in Bishop Burton in July, but to go on and win the first European Pony Tour for Teams crowned off and excellent Year.

We would also like to congratulate brothers Shane and Pauraic Kenny with More Clover and Cappagh Romeo, Kate MacDonagh with Imagine If One for their major contribution they gave when gaining top points by been on two Nations Cup winning teams in Fontainebleau in France and Wierden, Holland where Michael Duffy was also part of the team with Sillogue Darkie, to put Ireland into Pole position, and helped them win the Final in Chevenes in Switzerland.

I believe this is a freat series and I think that it should be supported each year.  It would be a great way to help us to develop and produce more great ponies and riders.

It was also great to see Tom Foley win the Big Tour Individual Cup and Kate MacDonagh who won the Small Tour Individual Cup.  And for Bertram Allen to go on and win the Grand Prix was just outstanding.  The facilities and hospitality of this show was excellent.

It is great to see Katie May McCarthy and Tim MacDonagh in the Line ups and Paraic Kenny a winner and gaining valuable experience for next year. 

I’d really like to thank such a great and dedicated Committee for all our successes, Katy Saunders, Keith Griffin, Susanne Killilea and Mark Bolger in Horse Sport Ireland and also the Team Vet Con Kennedy.

I have had a marvellous time as Pony Team Coach and Manager and I would like to wish all future Pony Teams and Coaches with all the best success in the year’s to come in their pursuit for future medals.’’

ALLEN WINS SWISS GRAND PRIX, FOLEY TAKES EUROPEAN INDIVIDUAL CUP

IRELAND'S pony riders once again dominated the action at Chevenez in Switzerland today (Sunday) with a near-whitewash in the Pony Grand Prix and two more awards in the European Challenge Cup series.

Fifteen year-old Wexford rider Bertram Allen, who was a member of Ireland's winning Nations' Cup team at Chevenez on Friday, today scooped the Grand Prix first prize on the same pony, 'Acapella Z', with fellow team members Emma O'Dwyer and Jeremy Sweetnam taking third and fifth places respectively, Paraic Kenny claiming seventh with 'Cappagh Romeo' and the fourth Nations' Cup rider, Tom Foley, taking tenth.

Fourteen year-old Foley, from Co. Clare, also won the Individual Big Tour European Challenge Cup, while Ireland's Kate McDonagh won the Small Tour European Cup. These awards completed a clean sweep in the new category, with Ireland also winning the Team Cup on Friday.

PONY SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIOP/CSIP/CSIJ CHEVENEZ SWITZERLAND OCTOBER 6-10 2010

GRAND PRIX
International Jumping Competition
Table A with One Jump Off (Art. 238.2.2)
1m30
Sunday October 10, 2010

1) ACAPELLA Z; Bertram ALLEN (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 37.51
2) MARADONNA; Niels KNAPE (NED) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 39.01
3) KALIM DE MONTLIEU; Emma O'DWYER (IRL) Faults 0.00/4.00 Time 36.23

5) ALLIHIES FIR BAOI (ISH); Jeremy SWEETNAM (IRL) Faults 0.00/8.00 Time 34.57
7) CAPPAGH ROMEO; Paraic KENNY (IRL) Faults 0.00/12.00 Time 43.13
10) DIBIDOE; Tom FOLEY (IRL) Faults 4.00/- Time 58.58

36 starters

IRELAND WIN SWISS NATIONS CUP AND CLINCH EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP

IRELAND'S pony riders pulled off an impressive double in Switzerland this afternoon (Friday) when they not only won the Swiss Nations' Cup but also clinched the European Challenge Cup, which is based on the number of Nations' Cup wins achieved in 2010.

Ireland's pathfinder at Chevenez, 15 year-old European Pony Gold Medallist Bertram Allen, collected four faults in his first round but delivered a zero score on 'Acapella Z' second time out.

Jeremy Sweetnam on the Irish-bred 'Allihies Fir Baoi' produced a clear and an eight fault round, while Tom Foley on 'Dibidoe' had a single mistake in each round. Irish anchor rider, Emma O'Dwyer with 'Kalim Du Montlieu', had four faults in her first round, but her clear second round helped Ireland snatch the trophy from Belgium, who finished in Silver Medal position on a total of 16 faults.

The Bronze Medal went to the Netherlands team, who had a total of 20 faults.

Ireland's victory this afternoon also gave them the coveted European Challenge Cup. Going in to today's competition, Ireland shared the European lead with Belgium, each nation having two Nations' Cup wins apiece, but the single fence lead achieved by the Irish quartet delivered the Challenge Cup on a total of three Nations' Cup wins.

Team Ireland Equestrian Pony High Performance Manager Ian Fearon, who retires after today's Nations' Cup competition said: "This was an absolutely outstanding performance today. We've now won every Nations' Cup we've entered this year, and it's a tribute to these ponies and their riders that they've stepped up to the top of the high performance programme so convincingly. It's great for Horse Sport Ireland to see these gifted young riders come up through the pony ranks, and to win the new European Challenge Cup series in its first year is a measure of the talent that we have."

PONY SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIOP/CSIP/CSIJ CHEVENEZ SWITZERLAND OCTOBER 6-10 2010

NATIONS CUP
International Jumping Competition
Table  A  two  rounds (FEI  Art.  264.10)
1m30
Friday October 8, 2010

1) IRELAND 12 penalties (GOLD)
Bertram Allen; Acapella Z 4/0
Jeremy Sweetnam; Allihies Fir Baoi (ISH) 0/8
Tom Foley; Dibidoe 4/4
Emma O'Dwyer; Kalim Du Montlieu 4/0
2) BELGIUM 16 faults
3) NETHERLANDS 20 faults
4) SWITZERLAND 24 faults
5) GERMANY 28 faults

Five nations competed

IRELAND WINS FIRST EVER WORLD BREEDING CHAMPIONSHIP

IRELAND has won its first ever World Breeding Championship, with Clem McMahon claiming victory at Lanaken, Belgium this afternoon (Sunday) in the Six Year-Old Final on the Irish-bred chestnut stallion 'NLS Coole Al Clover'.

Ireland also took third place in the Seven Year-Old Final, and eighth in the Five Year-Old Final today.

Horse Sport Ireland's Director of Breeding Alison Corbally said: “The Irish Sport Horse studbook have been waiting 18 years to win a Gold Medal at  the fiercely competitive FEI World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses at Lanaken. The Irish Sport Horse studbook was second last year (Drumiller Lough), third in 1996 (Ringcoola Abu) and fourth in 2006 (Cavalier Andy), but the long wait makes Clem McMahon’s tremendous win with Brian Kenny’s 'NLS Coole Al Clover' all the sweeter.

"Many congratulation to the delighted breeder of 'NLS Coole Al Clover', Eamonn Kenny from Attanagh, Co. Laois who together with his sons Brian and Alan were at Lanaken to witness and saver the success.”

The Irish stallion triumphed over 248 starters at Lanaken, and made it through the weekend's qualifiers to today's final field of 50 horses.

'NLS Coole Al Clover' is by 'Aldatus Z' (OLD) out of 'Laural Lodge' (AID), by 'Clover Hill' (RID) and won the championship on a double clear round.

Earlier today at Lanaken, James Hogg took eighth place in the Five Year-Old World Championships with the grey Cruising gelding 'Interpreter', while the day was rounded off with an Irish Bronze Medal in the Seven Year-Old Championships, with Greg Broderick and the Thurles-bred mare 'Ballypatrick Mystique' riding their way through a starting field of 186 to take a third place in today's World Final.

BREEDING RESULTS: LANAKEN BELGIUM – FEI WORLD BREEDING JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR YOUNG HORSES SEPTEMBER 23-26 2010

VDL GROEP - Final 6-year-old Horses
FEI WORLD BREEDING JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIP
FEI Art. 238.2.2   Table A 1m35 with one jump-off
Sunday, 26th September 2010

1) NLS COOLE AL CLOVER (ISH); Clement MCMAHON (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 36.28
2) EMERALD; Harrie SMOLDERS (NED) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 37.37
3) QUIMONO DE LA ROQUE; Edwina ALEXANDER (AUS) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 37.67

50 starters in Final, 248 starters in Championship
---
CLARIDEN LEU - Final 7-year-old Horses
FEI WORLD BREEDING JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIP
FEI Art. 238.2.2   Table A 1m45 with one jump-off
Sunday, 26th September 2010

1) EQUIPHARMA DAX VAN 'DABDIJHOEVE; Pieter DEVOS (BEL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 37.37
2) COOPER; Rene TEBBEL (GER) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 39.12
3) BALLYPATRICK MYSTIQUE (ISH); Greg BRODERICK (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 40.87

40 starters in Final, 186 starters in Championship
---
BOUWBEDRIJF KEULEN - Final 5-year-old Horses
FEI WORLD BREEDING JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIP
FEI Art. 238.2.2   Table A 1m30 with one jump-off
Sunday, 26th September 2010

1) ALWAYS THERE; Camila MAZZA DE BENEDICTO (BRA) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 38.24
2) COMME IL FAUT; Franz-Josef DAHLMANN (GER) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 38.62
3) CORTADO; Andreas SCHOU (DEN) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 38.76

8) INTERPRETER (ISH); James HOGG (IRL) Faults 0.00/4.00 Time 39.42

42 starters in Final, 220 starters in Championship

IRELAND FINISHES SECOND IN CANADIAN NATIONS' CUP

2009 National Champions Nicola FitzGibbon and Puissance recorded a first round clear in the BMO Nations Cup in Spruce Meadows on Satruday

IRELAND finished second in tonight's (Saturday) Nations' Cup of Canada at the five-star Spruce Meadows arena near Calgary.

The Irish quartet of Trevor Breen, Nicola FitzGibbon, Dave Quigley and Shane Sweetnam lay in third position at the halfway mark on a total of nine faults, with the USA and the Netherlands just one point ahead on eight faults apiece.

But a steady performance in the second round, with just one mistake apiece and a single time fault from Dave Quigley, saw the Irish move forward to take the runner-up spot on 21 faults behind winners USA, who finished one fence ahead with 17 penalties.

Riding her own 13 year-old bay gelding 'Puissance', Kildare's Nicola FitzGibbon, who celebrates her 23rd birthday this week, was Ireland's only clear round, and added just four faults to her total in the second round, while Breen and 'Adventure de Kannan' improved from eight faults to four on their final round.

Dave Quigley and 'Ulot' picked up five faults in each round, while Limerick-born Shane Sweetnam and the bay stallion 'Amaretto d'Arco' had just one fence down on each outing tonight.

The Irish team, under Chef d'Equipe Paraic Geraghty, finished four points ahead of Canada, and five points clear of Switzerland and the Netherlands, who tied for fourth place on 26 faults.

- Hide quoted text -

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI5* SPRUCE MEADOWS CANADA SEPTEMBER 9-12 2010

BMO Nations Cup of Canada
International Jumping Competition
FEI Table A Art 264 (Nation's Cup)
Saturday September 11, 2010

1) USA 17 faults
2) IRELAND 21 faults
Trevor Breen/Adventure de Kannan 8/4
Nicola FitzGibbon/Puissance 0/4
Dave Quigley/Ulot 5/5
Shane Sweetnam/Amaretto d'Arco 4/4
3) CANADA 25 faults
=4) SWITZERLAND 26 faults
=4) NETHERLANDS 26 faults
6) MEXICO 51 faults
7) Gt. BRITAIN 20 faults (First Round Only)
8) BELGIUM 29 faults (First Round Only)

Eight nations competed

BERTRAM ALLEN TAKES GOLD MEDAL FOR IRELAND IN EUROPEAN PONY CHAMPIONSHIPS

BERTRAM Allen from Wexford celebrated his 15th birthday today (Sunday) by taking the Individual Gold Medal at the European Pony Show Jumping Championships in Bishop Burton, England, with a double clear on 'Acapalla Z' netting him first place against a talented international field.

Afterwards he could only say: "This is the best birthday present ever!"

And in a mirror image of last year's European Pony Championships, which were held in Belgium, Ireland have now taken the Individual European Show Jumping Gold, the Team Show Jumping Silver and the Eventing Individual Bronze medals for 2010.

Allen was also a member of the show jumping team which won the European Silver Medal on Friday and today sealed Ireland's weekend triumphs with his own victory.

Horse Sport Ireland's Pony High Performance Coach Ian Fearon said: "This was just a fantastic performance by Bertram. He incurred no penalties at all throughout the entire weekend, and his pony showed all the attributes need to win a major championship. He has been outstanding all year, from trials at home to the Nations' Cup win in Holland earlier this year, and today's medal is proof of his incredible ability."

And in today's show jumping final, Ireland's Tom Foley took sixth place with 'Dibidoe'.

Race horse trainer Aidan O'Brien's 15 year-old daughter Sarah O'Brien won the Bronze Individual Medal in Eventing at Bishop Burton, a repeat of her brother Joseph's place in 2009, both riding their mother Anne-Marie's grey gelding 'Ice Cool Bailey'.

In 2009, the Individual Show Jumping Gold Medal was won by Kellie Allen (no relation) from Co. Meath.

SPLAINE NAMES AGA KHAN SQUAD FOR DUBLIN

The Ireland Team that won in Aachen will be looking to record a famous double of wins in the Aga Khan at the Dublin Horse Show next week

IRELAND'S Show Jumping Team Manager Robert Splaine has named the five Irish riders who will make up the squad for this year’s Aga Khan trophy at the Failte Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

The squad in alphabetical order is:

Shane Breen; Carmena Z
Dermott Lennon; Hallmark Elite
Denis Lynch; Nabab’s Son
Cian O’Connor; K Club Lady
Billy Twomey; Tinka’s Serenade

Speaking after the announcement Robert Splaine said he was reverting to the same five that he had sent to Aachen in Germany, where they subsequently won the Nations’ Cup.

“These five riders were the squad for Aachen, however Shane brings ‘Carmena Z’ while Denis brings ‘Nababs Son’."

Splaine pointed out that four of the combinations selected had jumped double clear rounds in the series during the season, with Billy Twomey and ‘Tinka’s Serenade’ jumping a clear and a four in two earlier Meydan Nations’ Cups.

“Shane and ‘Carmena Z’ had a double clear in La Baule, while Denis and ‘Nabab’s Son’ did the same at Falsterbo.

“Cian and Dermott had double clears at Aachen, and Billy was outstanding as the pathfinder there, jumping a four and a clear. This form has been achieved at the highest level and stands up, and is what you need going into a competition like the Aga Khan Trophy,” he said.

Splaine said that he expected the teams in Dublin to be the strongest countries can field and competition to be fierce over the next two rounds at Hickstead and Dublin, with so many teams still in threat of relegation.

The Nations Cup at Hickstead takes place next Friday, July 30th, and after the Aga Khan competition four teams will be relegated from the Meydan Superleague for 2011.

“While we have really improved our position we are still not  safe and there are five teams really under pressure and all of these countries will be fighting for their show jumping lives,” he said.

Ireland last won the Aga Khan trophy in 2004.

Ten teams will compete in the Aga Khan competition, which takes place at the Failte Ireland Dublin Horse Show on Friday, August 6th at 3pm and will be shown live on RTE.

IRELAND PULL OFF SENSATIONAL WIN IN GERMAN NATIONS' CUP
 
The Irish Show jumping team last night (Thursday) pulled off one of their most sensational results in recent memory, by winning the German Nations Cup at Aachen.

Ranked ten-to-one outsiders with the bookies before the competition, Ireland's quartet of Billy Twomey, Dermott Lennon, Cian O'Connor and Denis Lynch held off the home side Germany who finished second, to lift the trophy in front of a packed audience of over 60,000 spectators.

Ireland were in joint first place on four faults with four other teams at the halfway stage, but a clear from Cork's Billy Twomey riding 'Tinka's Serenade', followed by a further two clears from Co Down's Dermott Lennon with 'Hallmark Elite' and Meath's Cian O'Connor on his new mare 'K Club Lady', meant that Tipperary's Denis Lynch  and 'Lantinus', who knocked just one fence in the first round, did not need to jump in the second round as Ireland's four fault score could not be beaten.

Victory on what is regarded as one of the most difficult and forbidding courses in the world not only brought the capacity crowd to its feet, but also catapulted Ireland clear of the Meydan Superleague relegation zone, and up to joint third place on the ten team league table, with just two rounds remaining at Hickstead in England and Ireland's famous Dublin Horse Show.

Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh, who was in Aachen to watch the Irish team commented last night that ; "Last nights victory was a fantastic day for Irish show jumping and It was a privilege to to hear the national anthem played and see the tricolour raised at what is one of Europe's biggest sporting occasions. Joe Walsh went on to congratulate the riders, the owners and of course Team Ireland's  Show Jumping Manager Robert Splaine."

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO5* AACHEN GERMANY JULY 13-18

GERMAN NATIONS' CUP
Two Rounds 1m60
Thursday 15th July 2010

1) IRELAND 4 faults
Billy Twomey/Tinka's Serenade 4/0
Dermott Lennon/Hallmark Elite 0/0
Cian O'Connor/K Club Lady 0/0
Denis Lynch/Lantinus 4/-
2) GERMANY 9 faults
3) USA 12 faults
=4) SWITZERLAND 16 faults
=4) FRANCE  16 faults
6) NETHERLANDS 24 faults
7) SWEDEN 31 faults
8) GT. BRITAIN 35 faults

Ten nations competed

MACKEN WINS FIVE STAR CANADIAN OPENER

AT 61, Ireland's Eddie Macken had his best result of 2010 when he won the opening class at Spruce Meadows five-star show yesterday evening (Wednesday).

Macken, who is now based outside Vancouver, rode the Argentinian Warmblood 'Macuco' to victory in the speed class, beating the 47 year-old Mexican rider Antonion Maurer by just under a sixth of a second.

Regarded as one of the greatest Irish sportsmen of all time, Longford-born Eddie Macken took Irish show jumping to new heights during the 1970s, winning the Hickstead Derby four times in succession and was a member of the team that won the Aga Khan (Nations' Cup) three times in a row in Dublin (1977-1979). He jumped on 28 Aga Khan teams at the Dublin Horse Show, where he competed for 30 consecutive years.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI5* SPRUCE MEADOWS CANADA JULY 8-11 2010

Friends of the Meadows Welcome
International Jumping Competition
Table A Against the Clock
FEI Art. 238.2.1 1m40
Wednesday, July 7, 2010

1) MACUCO; EDDIE MACKEN (IRL) Faults 0.00 Time 65.54
2) JUMEX SPORT CHIPRE; ANTONIO MAURER (MEX) Faults 0.00 Time 65.69
3) KANNANS  GIRL Z; NICOLE LAKIN (USA) Faults 0.00 Time 66.49

35 starters

O'BRIEN WINS SWEDISH GRAND PRIX QUALIFIER, LENNON FIFTH

IRELAND'S Capt. David O'Brien scored a notable victory on the opening day of the Nations' Cup show at Falsterbo in Sweden this evening (Thursday) when seeing off a star-studded field to win the Grand Prix Qualifier on the Irish-bred 'Mo Chroi'.

Seventh to jump in a 54-strong startlist, the Athlone native set a scorching time of 53.06 seconds on the Minister for Defence's Cruising mare, and only Germany's Philipp Weishaupt came close with 'Leoville', while US rider Rich Fellers and another Cruising offspring, the stallion 'Flexible', slotted into third.

Co. Down's Dermott Lennon took fifth place with Woods Rosbotham's 'Hallmark Elite', also on a clear round. Lennon added a runner-up place to his tally with Allan Davidson's mare 'Tolett' in the earlier Derby Qualifier at the five-star Swedish show.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO5* FALSTERBO SWEDEN JULY 8-11 2010

SEB Cup
1st qualification for the Grand Prix (IJ8)
International Jumping Competition
Table A Against the Clock
FEI Art. 238.2.1 1m50
Thursday, July 8, 2010

1) Mo Chroi (ISH); Capt. David O'Brien (IRL) Faults 0.00 Time 53.06
2) Leoville; Philipp Weishaupt (GER) Faults 0.00 Time 53.10
3) Flexible (ISH); Richard Fellers (USA) Faults 0.00 Time 53.95

5) Hallmark Elite; Dermott Lennon (IRL) Faults 0.00 Time 54.50

54 starters
---

1st qualification for the JMS Derby (IJ6)
International Jumping Competition
Table A Against the Clock
FEI Art. 238.2.1 1m45
Thursday, July 8, 2010

1) Late Night; Pascal Levy (ESP) Faults 0.00 Time 57.23
2) Tolett; Dermott Lennon (IRL) Faults 0.00 Time 57.63
3) Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve; McLain Ward (USA) Faults 0.00 Time 58.44

77 starters

Breeding:
Mo Chroi (ISH) – 1997 grey mare by Cruising (ISH) out of Into The Blue (ISH), by Mister Lord (TB). Bred by Claire McDonnell, Ballymoney Park Stud, Kilbride, Co. Wicklow. Owner: Minister for Defence. Rider: Capt. David O’Brien (IRL)

KENNY FIRST AND SIXTH IN LAKE PLACID GRAND PRIX

OFFALY-born Darragh Kenny took both first and fifth place today (Sunday) at the Lake Placid Grand Prix in New York State.

The 22 year-old picked up 18,000 euro for his win on Missy Clarke's Irish-bred Cavalier Royale gelding 'Gael Force' with a double clear round, and also slotted 'Armani' into fifth place on a four-fault penalty total in the five-horse jump off.

US-based Kenny, who represented Ireland in the three opening Nations' Cups of the 2010 Meydan Series, also won a 1m45 class earlier in the week at Lake Placid with 'Celano'.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI2* LAKE PLACID USA JULY 1-4 2010

Hermes Grand Prix of Lake Placid
International Jumping Competition
Table A One Jump-off Against the Clock
FEI Art. 238.2.2 1m60
Sunday, July 4, 2010

1) GAEL FORCE (ISH); DARRAGH KENNY (IRL)  Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 46.390
2) VDL TORLANDO; CALLAN SOLEM (USA) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 47.000
3) VINCE; JIMMY TORANO (USA) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 48.320

5) ARMANI; DARRAGH KENNY (IRL) Faults 0.00/4.00 Time 44.690

24 starters

LYNCH FIRST IRISH WINNER AT MONTE CARLO

TIPPERARY'S Denis Lynch took Ireland's first winner's trophy at the five-star show in Monte Carlo tonight (Thursday), with Cork's Billy Twomey finishing just behind him in joint second.

Riding Clare Whitaker's 15 year-old bay gelding 'Lacroix', Lynch beat both Twomey with 'Tackeray' and Australia's Edwina Alexander by less than a tenth of a second to claim the 6,400 euro first prize.

Later, Jessica Kurten was the only Irish rider into the second round of the night's big jump-off competition, but a single mistake by 'Castle Forbes Libertina' left her in tenth place.

Monte Carlo's signature competition, the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix, takes place on Saturday night.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSI5* MONTE CARLO MONACO JUNE 24-27 2010

FED EQUESTRE DE LA PRINCIPAUTE DE MONACO PRIZE
International Jumping Competition
Table A against the clock
FEI 238.2.1 1m45
Thursday June 24, 2010

1) LACROIX 9; Denis LYNCH (IRL) Faults 0.00 Time 50.14
=2) TACKERAY; Billy TWOMEY (IRL) Faults 0.00 Time 50.21
=2) WATCH ME DE REVE BOVENHOEKSHOF; Edwina  ALEXANDER (AUS) Faults 0.00 Time 50.21

45 starters

IRELAND VICTORIOUS IN FINNISH NATIONS' CUP

A LARGELY rookie Irish team swept all before them at the Finnish Nations Cup in Ypaja this afternoon (Sunday) to claim the trophy on an aggregate score of just five faults over two rounds.

Limerick-born Joan Greene and Tim O'Shea's mare 'Biscaya d'Eversem', making their Nations' Cup debut for Ireland, delivered a sparkling double clear to set the tone for the day, while another first-timer, Alexander Butler with Harold McGahern's Irish-bred gelding 'Will Wimble', recorded just one time fault over the two rounds.

Tholm Keane and Ronan Tynan's stallion 'Warrenstown You 2' were also making their first appearance at this level, and faulted just once in the first round, recovering to produce a zero score second time out. Edward Little and 'Kalvinretto' had one fence down in the first round and did not jump in the second.

Ireland finished three points ahead of runners-up Belgium in the nine-nation three star contest.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO3* YPAJA FINLAND JUNE 17-20 2010

NATIONS CUP OF FINLAND
International Jumping Competition
Table A Two Rounds
1m50
Sunday, 20th June 2010

1) IRELAND 5 faults
Joan Greene; Biscaya d'Eversem 0/0
Edward Little; Kalvinretto 4/-
Alexander Butler; Will Wimble (ISH) 1/0
Tholm Keane;Warrenstown You 2 (ISH) 4/0.
2) BELGIUM 8 faults
3) DENMARK 9 faults
4) TURKEY 21 faults
5) SWEDEN 25 faults
6) NORWAY 27 faults
7) AUSTRIA 30 faults
8) FINLAND Elim
9) ESTONIA Elim.

Nine nations competed.

O'BRIEN WINS AT ROTTERDAM AHEAD OF FRIDAY'S NATIONS' CUP

IRISH confidence received a lift in Rotterdam tonight (Thursday) ahead of Friday's Nations' Cup clash when team member Capt. David O'Brien took a decisive victory in the two-phase competition at the Dutch five-star show.

The 32 year-old Westmeath native, riding the Minister for Defence's grey Cruising mare 'Mo Chroi', stopped the clock in the final phase almost two seconds ahead of Dutch challenger Gert-Jan Bruggink and his chestnut mare 'Andrea'.

O'Brien will be second to jump with the Irish-bred 'Kiltoom' in Friday afternoon's fourth leg of the Meydan Nations' Cup Superleague.

Team Ireland Equestrian's Show Jumping Manager Robert Splaine has chosen Denis Lynch with 'Abbervail van het Dingeshof' as the team pathfinder, and O'Brien will be followed into the arena by Jessica Kurten and the mare 'Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois'. Anchorman on Friday will be Tipperary's Shane Breen and 'Carmena Z'.

Ireland have been drawn sixth to jump of the world's top ten teams competing at Rotterdam, and the competition begins at 1.30 pm Irish time, with live scoring available on Horse Sport Ireland's website www.horsesportireland.ie.

SHOW JUMPING RESULTS: CSIO5* ROTTERDAM THE NETHERLANDS JUNE 17-20 2010

International Jumping Competition 3
Table A   Two Phases (Art. 274.5.3)
Height: 1m45
Thursday, 17th June 2010

1) Mo Chroi (ISH); Capt.David O'BRIEN (IRL) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 27.79
2) Andrea; Gert -Jan BRUGGINK (NED) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 29.32
3) Donna Karan; Jens FREDRICSON (SWE) Faults 0.00/0.00 Time 29.40

35 starters