Dateline: Ireland - 24th April, 2007

James Kernan's great stallion Touchdown, who has had such a huge impact in Irish breeding, passed away in his sleep last evening. Touchdown bred by James Kernan and owned by Mary Duggan stood at Knockrath Stud in County Meath with Norman Allen.

The 25 year old stallion by Galoubet A out of the Irish Sport Horse mare Lady Willpower (Cheyne) did international duty with James Kernan for Ireland. In 1996 while James was out of action with a broken collar bone and shoulder Touchdown went to Michael Whitaker who competed him very successfully in the Hickstead Silk Cut Derby where he ran second to Stanny van Paesschen and Mulga Bill.

Michael said of the 14 year old stallion "he's agile and very honest" which would indeed be the two best things you would want to hear about a stallion.

Touchdown has covered near to 700 mares during his stud career and there are many successful progeny in the showjumping ranks. This is a stallion who will be sorely missed but his legacy will continue through his progeny and currently Benny Kuehnle competes a very exciting son of Touchdown.

The stallion had been covering so as they say "he went a happy man"!

Dateline: Belgrade, Serbia

Seems horses and rock 'n roll just don't go together - the Rolling Stones concert due to be held in Belgrade on July 14th has run into some stumbling blocks! The concert due to be held on the racecourse would see the 300+ horses taking front row seats at the concert and the plan to sedate the horses for the duration of the concert has enraged animal lovers.

Moving the horses is simply not an option and Serbia's biggest animal protection society, ORCA, says holding the concert would be extremely harmful to the horses, and sedating them is not the answer.

If ORCA fail to convince the organisers to change the concert venue, they have said they will contact the Rolling Stones directly and ask them to use their influence.

"I believe we'll succeed since such a reputable band will not allow such a stain on its record," ORCA head , Elvir Burazerovic said.

Dateline: Las Vegas, USA

Switzerland has a World Cup Champion after Beat Mandli beat the opposition in Las Vegas last weekend. The defending champion Marcus Ehning finished 5th while 2006's runner up Jessica Kurten did not attend this year.

Beat Mandli was third in 2006 at the World Cup Final in Kuala LUmpar and so is well pleased with the impproved position.

The top 10 saw German take 6 positions and Switzerland took 2 of the top 10 spots when Steve Guerdat tied for third place with Germany's Markus Beerbaum.

Coming in at 10th spot was the only female in the top 10, Malin Baryard-Johnnson and her long time buddy Butterfly Flip.

The World Cup Final did not see a happy ending for MIchael Whitakker who was eliminated on day one as was Beezie Madden for the USA and on the final day Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum also faced elimination - this is not something which happens to these three riders!

Australia's highest ranked rider ever, Edwina Alexander who placed 4th on the podium at the Aachen WEG in 2006 was another who saw elimination on the final day after two refusals at sperate fences.

Dateline: Australia

The as yet unconfirmed rumour on the street is that Dr Kerry Mack will be seen in the competition ring on her very handsome stallion Whisper after Brett Parbury apparently relinquised the ride.

Dateline: Holland

VDL Douglas, who has been based in Ireland and last year competed under the saddle of Conor Swail has gone home to the VDL Stud and rumour has it that Jeroen Dubbledam will be competing the handsome Darco stallion son in Europe this season.

Plenty of Irish breeders have bred to this stallion so the years ahead should see his progeny entering the jumping rings.