Youth squads primed and ready for FEI European Championships

All roads lead to Gorla Minore, Italy, for the FEI Youth Show Jumping European Championships next week.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) Youth High Performance Manager James Kernan named his teams ahead of the final training session which recently took place in the National Horse Sport Arena at the Sports Campus, where HSI held a photocall with athletes, coaches, support staff and sponsors.

Sport Ireland High Performance Programme Manager Gillian Brosnan attended the session and wished the athletes luck ahead of the upcoming championships, which includes three age categories, with Ireland fielding a strong team in each division.

The categories include Children on Horses (under 14), Juniors (under 18) and Young Riders (under 21). The competition officially begins on Monday July 10^th and will run until Sunday July 16^th at the Italian venue.

Kernan is hopefully of a strong performance following an excellent start to the season with teams competing in the FEI Youth Nations Cup series, and included team victories in Hagen and Zuidwolde.

Last year Ireland claimed team Bronze in the Junior division and Harry Allen won the individual Bronze medal in the Young Rider class. Speaking about the announcement, Kernan said: “This year I have three very good teams.

“Our Junior team has won three Nations Cups already this year and our Children on Horses won a very strong Nations Cup in Hagen, Germany last week – they were also second in Gorla Minore earlier this year.

“Our Young Riders are very consistent, they’ve all been jumping around the world and getting some great results. Max Wachman has been very consistent all year and Seamus Hughes Kennedy has been in outstanding form.

“Niamh McEvoy and her mare had a very good season last year and jumped well in Bolesworth last week while Ciaran Nallon is going very well with his new ride Fifty Shades of Grey and they were very consistence on the Sunshine Tour.  Rhys Williams also won the CSI2* Grand Prix at Mullingar International.

“The horses and riders are all in great form, they’ve been in the winners enclosure all year. The Juniors have also been very strong all season and had some outstanding results.

“All-in-all they are three strong teams, hopefully with everything going according to plan we’ll be in with a fine chance of bringing home some medals. I would like to thank the parents for the continued support and GAIN Equine Nutrition for the support of the youth athletes.”

The combinations are listed in alphabetical order:

Children On Horses

Ruby Lily Gaines, from Co Meath, riding Castle Lux Clover (ISH)

Alice Moloney, from Co Kilkenny, riding Cosima

Cian McMunn, from Co Sligo, riding Limited Edition

Harry Rush, from Co Sligo, riding Tabby (ISH)[TIH]

Lily Tunney, from Co Fermanagh, riding Caravago

Juniors

Eoin Brennan, from Co Kilkenny, riding Eskola M

Timmy Brennan, from Co Kilkenny, riding Diadema Della Caccia

James Brennan, from Co Kilkenny, riding MHS Im The One (ISH)

Coen Williams, from Co Clare, riding Conthanja

Tom Wachman, from Co Tipperary, riding Cathalina S

Young Riders

Seamus Hughes Kennedy, from Co Kilkenny, riding ESI Rocky

Niamh McEvoy, from Co Tyrone, riding Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick (ISH)

Ciaran Nallon, from Co Mayo, riding Fifty Shades Of Grey

Max Wachman, from Co Tipperary, riding Quintini

Rhys Williams, from Co Clare, riding Playboy JT Z

Horse Sport Ireland Youth Athletes are kindly supported by GAIN Equine Nutrition, Bucas, Dubarry of Ireland, TRM and Berney Brothers Saddlery.