AS the international indoor show jumping season hits its halfway mark, Robert Splaine, Team Ireland Equestrian's show jumping manager, has announced his Irish selections for the next four legs of the World Cup Qualifier shows in 2011.

Ireland is entitled to nominate one rider for each of the 13 qualifying rounds in the Western European league, and there are now six legs left before the Final at Leipzig, Germany at the beginning of May next year.

The confirmed selections are:

December 26-30 MECHELEN - Cameron Hanley
January 28-30 ZURICH - Dermott Lennon
February 4-6 BORDEAUX - Jessica Kurten
February 10-13 VIGO - Jessica Kurten

Splaine said today: "With both Billy Twomey and Denis Lynch assured of automatic invitations because of their top ten position in the world jumping rankings, I have allocated Irish places in the next four legs of the World Cup largely based on contributions to the team effort during the 2010 Meydan Superleague series.

"Billy Twomey has performed extremely well this season and now looks almost assured of qualification for the final, and with other riders chasing points, I have withheld selections for Gothenburg and 's-Hertogenbosch until I see who has a chance of qualifying and doing well in the final at that stage."

The Rolex FEI World Cup is the premier indoor show jumping tournament in the world.
 

Robert Splaine