JESSICA Kurten opened the scoring for Ireland at the five-star show in Paris this afternoon (Saturday) with a runner-up place in the hotly-contested speed class. The Antrim-born rider piloted Lady Georgina Forbes's 10 year-old chestnut mare 'Castle Forbes Cosma' to a scorching finish, but was beaten to the 15,000 euro first prize by Ontario-based Olympic gold medallist Eric Lamaze.

THE HSI Chippison Spring Tour continues this weekend at Barnadown (Easter Sunday) and Warrington (Easter Monday). To download the startlist for Barnadown click HERE and for Warrington click HERE

THE final leg of equestrian sport’s biggest team competition will be held in Ireland this year. The concluding competition of the Meydan Nations' Cup series will be the Nations' Cup of Ireland for the Aga Khan Trophy at the Failte Ireland Dublin Horse Show in August.

The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has announced that it has renewed its partnership with Meydan for the title sponsorship of Jumping’s premier team competition, the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™. The deal covers the 2010 season.

A TENTH of a second denied Ireland's Jessica Kurten the ultimate prize of the weekend at Holland's five-star World Cup show when she finished second to Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson in the Rolex FEI World Cup competition this afternoon (Sunday). After a string of dazzling results at 's-Hertogenbosch, the Antrim-born rider was forced to concede victory in the ten-horse jump-off today.

IT WAS 26 year-old Army rider Lt. Michael Kelly who took the honours at Cavan today (Sunday) in the eighth leg of the HSI Chippison Grand Prix Tour with a win on the Minister for Defence's Irish-bred grey gelding 'River Foyle'.

WITH Jessica Kurten confirming her position as favourite to win April's Rolex FEI World Cup Final in Geneva after a second place finish in the Netherlands today (Sunday) put her at the top of the Western European League, Ireland now has three contenders bidding for show jumping's elite prize.

A FREE live webcast will be available of tonight's (Saturday) World Cup Grand Prix at Wellington, Florida, where three Irish riders - Kevin Babington, Shane Sweetnam and Darragh Kenny - will be competing. The competition starts just after midnight Irish time, and is available HERE

BILLY Twomey rounded off a good week at the Spanish Sunshine Tour when finishing fourth on a double clear round in today's (Sunday) Grand Prix with Sue Davies's chestnut mare 'Tinka's Serenade'. he Cork-born rider was almost three seconds slower in the ten horse jump-off than French winner Michel Robert with 'Kellemoi de Pepita'.

JOHN Floody and Young Rider Blayne Sheehan were the winners in the sixth and seventh legs of the HSI Chippison Spring Tour today, with Floody scoring decisively at Kernan's Equestrian Centre in Crossmaglen and Sheehan taking the honours at Maryville.