CORK'S Billy Twomey and Tipperary's Denis Lynch make their first 2012 appearances when they line out at the five-star show in Basel, Switzerland this weekend, while Marion Hughes will be hoping to repeat last weekend's success on the Arab circuit when she competes at Abu Dhabi.

Twomey and Lynch will be aiming to improve their places in the FEI Rolex rankings, with the Cork rider currently in 19th place and Lynch in seventh. Both riders arrive in Basel with three horses apiece. The Swiss Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, with 350,000 euro prize money on offer.

Meanwhile Kilkenny-born Marion Hughes, who took second place in the World Cup competition in Dubai last week with the Irish-bred Heritage HHS Fortuna, brings the same horse to Abu Dhabi's three-star show along with Crispien, who gave her victory in Dubai's opening class last Thursday.

Hughes is joined at Abu Dhabi by fellow Irish riders Michael Hutchinson and Lucy Buchanan.

At Drachten in the Netherlands, Ivan Dalton and Conor Drain represent Ireland in the two-star show.
 

Billy Twomey (top) and Denis Lynch