EQUESTRIAN:Ireland's show jumpers were in cracking form over the weekend, with Jessica Kurten, Marie Burke and Shane Breen all finding their way into the winner's enclosure.

Burke triumphed in the two-round Longines Classic at Hickstead on Saturday. The Clare rider was one of six through to the timed decider and her 43.70 seconds with Chippison not only claimed the honours but must have gone a long way towards booking her slot on the Irish squad for next month's European championships in Germany.

Shane Breen, another hoping for a place on the team, landed the Sky Sports Speed Classic. He produced one of just two clears to score with Dorada by almost one and a half seconds from Britain's Ellen Whitaker.

Jessica Kurten made it an Irish hat-trick when triumphing in Saturday night's Grand Prix in La Coruna in the timed decider on 37.05 seconds with the mare Quibell. Billy Twomey was four seconds slower for fourth with Tinka's Serenade. Cameron Hanley claimed the runner-up spot in yesterday's two-phase speed with SIEC Royal Star.

Heavy overnight rain made conditions tough yesterday and neither Burke nor Breen repeated their previous day's form. Burke missed the cut for the second round of the Queen's Cup with a late fence down, but the fastest four-faulter left her in fifth with Chippison. Britain's Tina Fletcher, first to go of the quartet against the clock, won from the front with the only double clear.

Breen lowered two on this tour of the King's Cup track with World Cruise and was less than two seconds off qualifying for the top six, finishing eighth. Aidan Killeen finished second in Saturday's junior jump-off class at the European junior and young rider championships.