Irish Junior Rider (U18) and Young Rider (U21) teams to participate in USA Nations Cups

For the first time Ireland will field teams in the Junior and Young Rider Nations Cups in the USA on Saturday. The Irish Senior team has a proud record in the Senior Nations Cups in Florida, and they will compete in the Senior Nations Cup this weekend also, but it will be the first time that Junior and Young Rider teams have competed.

The Irish team in the Junior Nations Cup, which is restricted to riders who are under 18 years of age, will consist of:

• Philip Carey with Domino Van De Hermitage
• Matt Garrigan with Quentucky Jolly
• Cormac Hanley with Estefania
• Conor McMahon with Vaillant S

The Irish team in the Young Rider competition, which is limited to riders who are under 21, will consist of:

• Thomas Foley with Petrushka III
• Cormac Hanley with Navy Blue Tarroy
• Oliver McCarthy with Crossfire 10
• Jenny Rankin with Eddi Maserati

The Chef d’Equipe for both teams will be Comdt. John Ledingham who will be assisted by Michael Blake, whose initiative it was to field teams in these competitions.

Chef d’ Equipe, Comdt. John Ledingham, Children, Junior and Young Rider High Performance Manager said; “It is a real privilege to be part of an Irish Junior and Young Rider Team in Wellington Florida. As part of a Showjumping Ireland initiative headed up by Michael Blake, Ireland have ten Young Riders based in Wellington with Irish International Riders. As part of their ongoing education, those selected will compete in a Junior and Young Rider Nations Cup on Saturday 28th February. We are eternally grateful to the Irish Senior riders based in the USA and their owners, who very generously have made their horses available to these very talented young riders – the future of our sport. All horses successfully passed the vet inspection yesterday morning.”

The Young Rider Nations Cup will take place on Saturday 28th February at 18.00 GMT, with the Junior Nations Cup following at 19.15 GMT. Please note, the underage Nations Cup rounds are split between morning and afternoon sessions. The results of the two Nations Cup will therefore only be available on Sunday morning at 02.00 GMT and 03.30 GMT respectively.