Equestrian News round-upIreland's haul of equestrian honours over the weekend makes pretty impressive reading, with a King George V Gold Cup win for Kevin Babington in Hickstead plus team and individual bronze medals at the European pony championships in Co Fermanagh's Necarne Castle.

Babington, a member of the 2001 European gold medal team and aiming for a place on the squad that will be defending the title in Germany later this month, netted himself a cool £12,000 for victory in Hickstead's feature yesterday, when his double clear with Carling King easily fended off the challenge of Britain's William Funnell and Andrew Davies.

The victory brought Ireland's tally to three after Clement McMahon's victories on Thursday and Friday, but, not content with the main share of the King George prize fund, Ireland also had Peter Charles and his new mare Pershing in fourth, one place ahead of Billy Twomey with the stallion Luidam, for another £5,000 from the prize pot.

There were medals to be collected too up at the European pony championships at Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, where Sara Glynn netted individual bronze in the three-day event and the showjumpers claimed the team bronze.

Glynn, who has another year in the pony ranks, was in seventh after the dressage with Killossery Aero Flyer, which won team bronze with Sara's brother Robert two years ago, 12 months after team bronze for his previous jockey Dessie Kilkenny. A scorching clear across country on Saturday boosted Glynn to overnight third and she held onto that with a cool clear in yesterday's showjumping.

Claire Condon, whose older brother Anthony took individual bronze in the showjumping at last year's championships, was sixth, and best of the Irish, in Saturday's individual, but along with her brother was part of the quartet that took team bronze yesterday. Mark McAuley and Mark Flynn, who both jumped a clear and a four, made up the Irish foursome.

And back on the eventing circuit, Sasha Harrison booked her place in the World Cup finals at Pau in October when finishing third at the Lulworth Castle three-star with her world games ride All Love du Fenaud.

Harrison (27), finished seven penalties adrift of British's Leslie Law with the Irish export Shear l'Eau and was held out of the runner-up spot by Rodney Powell with Flintstone. Harrison now joins young Pip Peters, who qualified at Chatsworth in May for the World Cup finals.