Show Jumping News: Cian O'Connor was back in winning form at Hickstead over the weekend, claiming victory in the Sky Sports Speed Classic on Saturday at the Sussex showgrounds.
O'Connor had the 11-year-old mare Zanoubia at racing pace around the massive arena, clocking 70.50 seconds to win by over two seconds from French ace Roger-Yves Bost.
Shane Breen, who had opened the Irish account with a brilliant victory in Thursday's Eventing Grand Prix, returned to the action with Mullaghdrin Gold Rain to take third place by a fifth of a second from team-mate Cameron Hanley with Charming Fox.
Jessica Kürten was also in the money at the Spanish fixture in La Coruna, finishing second in yesterday's Banco Pastor speed class with Castle Forbes Maike and steering Vivaldo to fifth in the mini-Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, Denis Lynch was flying the flag at Gera in Germany, slotting into third in the big jump-off class, although Schneesturm's time of 47.01 was well off the pace set by German winner Otto Becker with Lando.
On the British circuit, Kilkenny-born Ivan Dalton scored his first major Grand Prix win at the Weston Lawns meeting in the Midlands on Saturday.
The 20-year-old, who is now based in Shropshire with Wexford rider Dave Quigley, claimed the honours with the nine-year-old stallion Quidam Junior, relegating Quigley to the runner-up spot. Enda Carroll, a previous stable jockey for Quigley, made it an Irish whitewash when slotting into third.
And on the home circuit, the Army Equitation School was out in force at the Boswell Equestrian Centre in Wicklow, claiming first, third and fourth in yesterday's feature Grand Prix.
Captain Shane Carey had two through to the nine-horse jump-off and recorded the winning time of 37.59 seconds with the 13-year-old Hands Free. Limerick-born Carey was slower with African Drum, but it was still good enough for fourth, while fellow McKee Barracks inmate Captain David O'Brien brought Kiltoom into third behind Tholm Kean with Warrenstown You 2.
Conor Swail's sixth-place finish allowed him to narrow the gap on current league leader Francis Connors to 18 points, while Tholm Keane has now moved up into equal third with Clem McMahon.
