Blake names strong Aachen Nations Cup team, with Olympics combinations potentially on show

Vistogrand and Denis Lynch Denis are in the mix to line up for Ireland in the CSIO5* Nations Cup, Aachen

The Underwriting Exchange Irish Senior Show Jumping Team athletes have been named for the CSIO5* Nations Cup in Aachen next weekend, with Irish combinations for the Paris Olympics potentially lining out.

HSI High Performance Show Jumping Director Michael Blake has selected three of the four riders travelling to Paris next month for the Games, with Cian O’Connor, Shane Sweetnam and Bertram Allen joining Denis Lynch on the team.

The Irish Senior team has been in fine form this season as they gear towards Paris, finishing on top of the Longines League of Nations Series Standings ahead of the final in Barcelona in October.

The only member of Ireland’s Olympic quartet not jumping in Aachen is Daniel Coyle, whose Legacy jumped in the Longines League of Nations last week in Rotterdam, and Blake will be hoping for a strong showing.

The Underwriting Exchange Irish Senior Show Jumping Team, in alphabetical order, for the CSIO5* Nations Cup, Aachen is as follows:

• Bertram Allen with Gary de Cersy or Pacino Amiro (ISH)
• Denis Lynch with Brooklyn Heights, Cordial or Vistogrand
• Cian O’Connor with Fancy De Kergane, Fermoy or Maurice
• Shane Sweetnam with James Kann Cruz (ISH), Otis Blue or RR Combella

BREEDING:

Pacino Amiro (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Pacino (BWP) out of Carnone Dancing Queen (ISH) by NC Amiro (AES). Breeder: Simon Scott, Co. Donegal. Owner: Ballywalter Stables. Rider: Bertram Allen (IRL).

James Kann Cruz (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Kannan (KWPN) out of CSF Telly Cruz (ISH) by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Patrick Connolly. Owner: Gizmo Partners LLC. Rider: Shane Sweetnam (IRL)

The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange

Charles Ancona – Official athlete clothing supplier to HSI’s Senior Olympic programmes

Bucas – official supplier to the Irish High Performance programme

The Irish High Performance Show Jumping Programme is exclusively funded by Sport Ireland