EQUESTRIAN: Cian O'Connor was the man to beat on the national grand prix show-jumping circuit this weekend, but he proved too hot for the opposition, claiming the honours in both Omagh and Blessington to move even further ahead of his rivals in the IJM Timberframe league standings.

O'Connor had three through to the timed decider in the David Prentice BMW feature at Omagh on Saturday and it was the last of these, Irish Independent Echo Beach, that provided the horsepower for the win.

Waterford Crystal, whose positive dope test from the Athens Olympics resulted in the loss of Ireland's only medal, was fifth in Saturday's line-up. But O'Connor upped the ante yesterday in a 10-horse jump-off. He had Waterford Crystal home through the finish more than four seconds faster than the rest of the field.

On the international circuit, Shane Breen and World Cruise, a son of Cruising, slotted into fifth in yesterday's Grand Prix in Lummen.

Meanwhile, rumours that the European dressage championships, due to be held in Moscow at the end of the month, had been cancelled have been denied by the chairman of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) dressage committee.