IRELAND'S Billy Twomey picked up 5,000 euro for a second place in tonight's (Friday) jump-off competition at the five-star Portuguese show in Estoril, riding Michelle Gatland's bay stallion 'Tackeray'. Tipperary's Denis Lynch also placed fifth with Thomas Straumann's gelding 'Abbervail van het Dingeshof'.

AFTER a full investigation into the facts surrounding the disqualification of Sapphire (McLain Ward) at the FEI World Cup Final in Geneva, the FEI has determined that the horse was incorrectly eliminated from the second round on 16 April 2010, however, Sapphire’s disqualification from the final round of the World Cup remains in place.

IRELAND will field Shane Breen, Jessica Kurten, Dermott Lennon, Denis Lynch and Capt. David O'Brien as its squad to do battle in the Swedish Nations' Cup at Falsterbo next week.

CAPT. David O'Brien and Billy Twomey shared third place with four other riders in this afternoon's (Sunday) DFS Derby at Hickstead, England, and a total of three Irish-bred horses finished in the top ten.

LIMERICK'S Joan Greene scored a third place finish in today's (Sunday) Norway Grand Prix at Drammen with Tim O'Shea's mare 'Biscaya d'Eversem', completing the first round with a zero score, but putting four faults on the board in the three horse jump-off.

FIVE stallions made it through to the 12 horse jump-off at Monte Carlo's five-star show this afternoon (Saturday), and three of them claimed the top places, with Cork's Billy Twomey and 'Tackeray' finishing third.

TWENTY-six year old Damien Griffin was best of the Irish at Hickstead's Derby Meeting in England this afternoon (Saturday) when finishing as runner-up in the Speed Derby with Margaret Griffin's Diamond Clover gelding ' Lissyegan Clover Diamond'.

TWO hundredths of a second separated Ireland's Jessica Kurten from the 95,000 euro first prize in the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix at Monte Carlo tonight (Saturday). After two challenging clear rounds, the 40 year-old Antrim-born rider was second last to go in the six-horse jump-off.

HORSE Sport Ireland has confirmed Children on Horses and Junior teams as well as three Young Riders who will compete as individuals at the European championships which will take place in Haras de Jardy, France from 13-18 July, 2010.

TEAM Ireland Equestrian's Eventing High Performance Manager Ginny Elliott has named a squad of six horse and rider combinations from which she will select five to travel to the Alltech World Equestrian Games in Kentucky from September 30th to October 3rd.