Second places were the order of the day for Ireland's equestrians yesterday, with the pony team finishing as runners-up in the Verona Nations Cup in Italy, where Conor Swail was second in the afternoon speed class, and dressage rider Anna Merveldt-Steffens filling the same slot in the Grand Prix Special in Stadl Paura, Austria.

Dubliner Barry Griffin, who finished best of the Irish ponies in eighth in Saturday's Grand Prix, sealed Ireland's share of second place with Switzerland in yesterday's Nations Cup with a second-round clear from Drummanor Mill that was matched by faultless rounds from Gerald O'Neill (Loughnatousa Falcon) and Andrew Ryan (Barrys Beauty). Lorraine O'Brien, who was called in as pathfinder, faulted just once at the second attempt.

Shortly after the team finish, Conor Swail rode Bobby Killoran's Cruising mare Hi Society Party into the runner-up slot in yesterday's speed class, less than half a second adrift of winning German Otto Becker with Filias. Swail, who missed the cut for Saturday's World Cup qualifier, also steered Edward Cawley's Windgates Cruise West to fifth in the Top Score.

Swail scooped 6,700,000 Italian lire for his placings, around £2,700, but there was substantially more on offer in the World Cup class, when five won through to the timed round. With three Belgians in the quintet, they were always going to be a force to be reckoned with and they certainly made their presence felt by claiming the top three places headed by Stanny van Paesschen and O de Pomme. And it was a Belgian out in front again last night when Peter Postelmans claimed the Grand Prix in a jump-off.

At the three-star dressage show in Stadl Paura, Anna Merveldt-Steffens earned her place on yesterday's Grand Prix Special startlist by riding Fosbury 2 into fifth in Saturday's Grand Prix and then moved up the order to finish second yesterday in the 14- year-old Westphalian gelding's Special debut.