EQUESTRIAN:Ireland's show jumpers notched up an impressive four wins as well as three top-six placings yesterday. Ciarán Howley opened the batting by claiming one of the German speed classes in Munich. The 28-year-old was fast and clear with Suomi Fortuna to win by just under a second from Germany's Sebastian Karshuning.

The other wins all came at the Balmoral international in Belfast, where the home side lifted all three classes on the opening day.

Ronan McLaughlin claimed first blood when scoring in the opener, the P&O two-phase speed class, with Illinoise de Cabdula by just under a fifth of a second from Capt David O'Brien.

The Army rider made amends in the evening's Giltspur Scientific top score, bringing out Ringfort Cruise again to take the honours from the British visitor Graham Lovegrove.

Trevor Bartlett was the meat in an already wholly Irish sandwich, picking off the second class of the day with Euro Double Act by a fifth of a second from Britain's Keith Shore.

Billy Twomey just missed the winner's enclosure in Eindhoven when finishing as runner-up in the two-phase at the Dutch fixture, while Cameron Hanley slotted into fourth in the Spanish equivalent in Madrid, where Jessica Kürten had finished sixth in the opening speed class.

But it was the British to the fore on the opening day of the Irish Horse Board Punchestown three-day event.

Oliver Townend, who suffered concussion in a cross-country fall at last month's Ballindenisk World Cup qualifier in Cork, is in first and third place in the Fáilte Ireland two-star, with the Australian Paul Tapner separating the two British horses.

Ciarán Glynn is best of the Irish in fifth with Killossery Kruisita, just under eight penalties behind the leader.

Matthew Wright, winner of last year's Ballindenisk World Cup round, holds the edge in the CLG Developments one-star, 7.5 penalties clear of Ireland's Alison Holden in second with Maximus Orielius.