Babington win

Tipperary’s Kevin Babington and Shorapur scored a win for Ireland in Friday’s 1.50m world ranking class at Kapellen’s three-star show in Belgium, finishing fastest of five double clear rounds. Babington was also placed in Saturday’s 1.50m class at the same venue coming home in sixth with the Irish-bred Mark Q.

Speirs second

IRELAND’s Camilla Speirs claimed a runner-up finish at Barbury Castle CIC** on a score of 42.8 with the Irish Sport Horse BT Cloud Nine, with Austin O’Connor next best of the Irish in seventh with Day By Day (ISH). Jesse Campbell took the winners prize for New Zealand with Cleveland on a score of 39.5.

Falsterbo dressage

BIRTHDAY girl Tinne Vilmhelmson-Silfven led the Swedish team to victory in the fifth leg of the Nations Cup Dressage series at Falsterbo. The Netherlands lined up second ahead of Germany in third.

Vilmhelmson-Silfven, riding Don Auriello, and team-mate Patrik Kittel with Deja, confirmed Swedish supremacy when producing the only two scores above 80% in the freestyle test, while 27-year-old newcomer Emilie Nyrerod riding Miata and Minna Telde with Santana also played a key role in the win for the home side.

Talbot fourth

Niall Talbot held on to take fourth place in the two-star grand prix at Dettighofen in Germany aboard his long servant Nicos de la Cense, with Swiss rider Steve Guerdat taking the winner’s trophy aboard Albfuehren’s Happiness.