IN blinding rain at the five-star Global Champions' Tour venue of Valkenswaard in the Netherlands on Saturday Tipperary's Denis Lynch picked up 60,000 euro for a Grand Prix second place aboard Thomas Straumann's bay gelding 'Lantinus', missing victory by just half a second.

IRISH riders took second and third in the feature class this evening (Friday) at the five-star show at Valkenswaard in the Netherlands, with Tipperary's Denis Lynch claiming the runner-up spot and Louth-born Mark McAuley less than a second behind him in the jump-off.

AN Irish team that featured two Aga Khan rookies came within one fence of claiming the famous trophy for the first time since 2004 at the Dublin Horse Show this afternoon (Friday). In one of the closest finishes ever recorded, Ireland and Britain finished the two rounds of the FEI Nations' Cup on eight faults apiece, forcing a jump-off that was in the end decided by a single error.

CORK'S Shane Sweetnam will be the first Irish rider out onto the turf when the historic Aga Khan Trophy competition begins shortly before 3pm tomorrow at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show at the RDS in Ballsbridge.

CORK'S Billy Twomey was Ireland's sole international winner on the first day of the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show, but other Irish riders made a respectable showing with top ten places.

IRELAND stayed in the top three of the FEI Nations' Cup Superleague after finishing equal sixth in the Nations' Cup at Hickstead, England this afternoon (Friday). In a dramatic competition at the historic five-star venue, three teams - Germany, France and the United States - tied for first position after two rounds on 20 faults apiece, and only after a jump-off did Germany take the winners' trophy, with France in second and the USA in third.

IRELAND'S pony team came within one penalty point of securing the 2011 European Show Jumping Championships Gold Medal at Jaskowo in Poland this afternoon (Friday). Finishing on a Silver Medal score of nine faults, the Irish quartet saw Britain take the trophy on eight faults after two rounds of the Nations' Cup.

SPEAKING during the RTE racing coverage on RTE 2 this evening (Tuesday) Team Ireland Equestrian Showjumping Team Manager Robert Splaine named the Irish Squad for the Aga Khan Trophy which takes place at the RDS on Friday, August 5th.

IRELAND'S Denis Lynch picked up just over 6,000 euro for his third place in this evening's (Sunday) Grand Prix at the five-star show in Chantilly, France, riding Flaminia Straumann's Calvaro gelding 'Night Train'.

PORTUGUESE-based Irish rider Marion Hughes ran up a hat-trick of victories at the two-star show in Vimeiro, Portugal this weekend, culminating with a win in this evening's (Sunday) Grand Prix.