Show Jumping:Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum landed yesterday's Rolex FEI World Cup qualifier in Stuttgart, narrowly relegating Ireland's Jessica Kuerten into second place, writes Margie McLoone.

The European champion, riding her Mannheim partner Shutterfly, bettered the time set by Kuerten and Castle Forbes Libertina by 0.4 of a second in the 14-horse jump-off to win a Mercedes jeep and 20 World Cup points. For her efforts, Kuerten picked up 17 World Cup points and €32,000.

A large Irish contingent competed at the two-star show in the Unex Towerlands complex, Essex, over the weekend with Cian O'Connor winning Friday's main event on Echo Beach.

Second here with Anastasia, Cork man Billy Twomey came out the following evening to land the 'winner takes all' Unex Masters competition on the mare Tinka's Serenade, reversing placings with O'Connor who filled the runner-up slot with Complete.