A LEADING breeder’s award on the way for Justin Burke; two Irish Sport Horses - HSH Blake and James Kann Cruz - are the top-ranked and number two horses in eventing and show jumping; Patrick Connolly is the second-highest ranked show jumping breeder and a reclaimed title are among the standouts from the just-released WBFSH rankings.

The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) eventing studbook rankings came down to a tight race after the Holsteiner Verband overtook its Irish rivals in the penultimate August rankings. Bidding for a treble, the German studbook was thwarted by the Irish Sport Horse studbook after a strong showing by Irish-breds at Burghley CCI5*-L.