HORSE Sport Ireland has announced a change to the Irish team that will take part in Eventing at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky later this month.

HSI’s Eventing High Performance Manager Ginny Elliot has confirmed that Bandon-based Michael Ryan and ‘Ballylynch Adventure’ have withdrawn from the Irish eventing squad due to an injury to Ballylynch Adventure.

As first reserve Jayne Doherty and ‘The Only One’ have also had to withdraw due a horse injury, Capt Geoff Curran with Maurice Cassidy and The Minister for Defence’s ‘The Jump Jet’ have been called up to the squad and will now travel to the Games.

Ginny Elliot said: “This is gutting for Mike Ryan and his owners and it is a great pity as the combination had been going very well. However, Geoff and ‘The Jump Jet’ put up a very strong performance in Burghley last week and we are fortunate to able to call on such an experienced combination at four star level.

“The horse has come out of Burghley really well and there are four weeks between the competitions. Both the Army Equitation School vet and our team vet have examined the horse and he is in great form,” she said.

The full Irish Eventing squad for the World Equestrian Games is now:

Capt. Geoff Curran - The Jump Jet (Owned by Maurice Cassidy & The Minister for Defence)

Mark Kyle - Step in Time (Owned by Tanya & Mark Kyle)

Liz Power - Kilpatrick River (Owned by Dermot O’Rourke)

Patricia Ryan - Fernhill Clover Mist (Owned by Carol & Tom Henry & Sheila Foley)

Camilla Speirs - Portersize Just a Jiff (Owned by Bridget & Camilla Speirs)

Sam Watson - Horseware Bushman (Owned by John & Julia Watson & Tom MacGuinness)

Capt. Geoff Curran