EQUESTRIAN: Ireland's show jumpers were in winning form on the international circuit this weekend, notching up no fewer than an impressive six victories and numerous placings, but the big prize at the Rotterdam Nations Cup meeting eluded them when both the world champion, Dermott Lennon, and Harry Marshall went out in the first round of the Grand Prix.

Tipperary's John Hickey, now based in Sweden, claimed the Grand Prix honours at the Finnish show in Hamina.

Originally from Clonmel, 39-year-old Hickey - winner of the feature class at last week's Finnish fixture in Ypaja - scorched round in 47.78 seconds with Artiq.

Adding to the Irish celebrations, Hickey's 20-year-old protégé Thomas Ryan had taken the earlier 1.35-metre class with Cassi.

The hosts managed to hold on for the win in yesterday afternoon's Nations Cup, however, scoring by a single fence over the Irish quartet of CiaráHowley, Ryan Crumley, Paul O'Shea and Brian Duff. Howley, who put in a double clear with Darcato, had won the earlier speed class with Libra.

Jessica Kurten, a member of the team that slotted into fourth at the Samsung Super League fixture in Rotterdam on Friday, claimed her moment in the winner's enclosure when winning yesterday's Take Your Own Line speed class with the nine-year-old Castle Forbes Libertina.

Kurten, a member of Ireland's Athens Olympic squad, was following in the footsteps of team-mates Billy Twomey and Clem McMahon, who had both had a share of the spotlight over the weekend.

Twomey, who missed out on an Olympic debut last autumn when his top horse went lame, steered Killy Jones to victory on Saturday.

But he had to settle for the runner-up spot in the ING Bank jump-off class, when compatriot Clem McMahon and Hermes de Reve came home almost half a second to the good for an Irish one-two.