After today's (Friday) European Team Championships, in which Ireland finished seventh of 17 nations, three Irish riders have qualified for the European Individual Final on Sunday at Windsor Castle in England.

Switzerland are the new European showjumping Champions. They finished ahead of Italy(Silver), and Germany (Bronze). Ireland finish 7th of 19 teams.

For full results click on this link:

Alltech European Showjumping championships 2009

IRELAND'S Barry Capstick finished in individual 12th place after three phases of the World Pairs Driving Championships in Hungary this evening (Sunday) on a score of 158.04.

The 51 year-old Gloucester-based professional Driver, who took Irish nationality in 2003, was in 10th place after the initial Dressage phase, fell to 17th position following the cross-country (Marathon) stage, but recovered in the Cones test today to pull himself back to 12th overall.

IRELAND'S European Para Equestrian dressage team finished in overall ninth place after three days of competition at the FEI European and Open Para-Equestrian Championships in Kristiansand, Norway this evening (Sunday).

Britain won the championships on a score of 218.715 per cent, with Germany in silver medal position with 217.118 per cent, and the Netherlands taking bronze on 204.456.

Horse Sport Ireland this evening (Sunday) confirmed that Denis Lynch and 'Lantinus' will not now be part of the Irish squad due to compete at the European Show Jumping Championships in Windsor, England later this week.

After a ninth place in the Dutch Global Champions Tour Grand Prix top Irish international rider Jessica Kurten announced the retirement of the 15 year-old bay mare 'Quibell'.

FEI HOLDING STATEMENT

Lausanne, 19 August 2009

The Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV) has undertaken comprehensive measures to improve the ground in the main stadium. At the last World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen 2009 (June 25^th-July 7^th) the footing did not reach the accustomed high standard.

Ireland will field its first ever team at a World Pairs Driving Championships this weekend.

The Championships are due to start tomorrow (Thursday) in Kecskemet, Hungary with the Dressage phase, which continues until Friday. The Marathon phase will be held on Saturday, and Cones on Sunday.

The Irish team who qualified for the championships are Barry Capstick, Folke Rohrssen and Edwin Bryson. A total of 23 nations will take part.