Blake names squads ahead of Rotterdam and Deauville

Michael Blake has named the two Irish Show Jumping squads competing in Nations Cup competitions this weekend

Irish Show Jumping High Performance Director Michael Blake has named the two Underwriting Exchange Irish squads set to compete in the CSIO5* Nations Cup in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and the CSIO3* Longines EEF Nations Cup Semi-Final in Deauville, France this weekend.

Following a successful campaign, competing at Nations Cups around the world, Blake is looking forward to the weekend. Unable to be in two places at one time, he sends his Deputy Director Taylor Vard to Deauville, while Blake goes to Rotterdam.

Both Nations Cup Competitions take place on Friday, 23^rd June 2023.

The team for Rotterdam is:

Harry Allen with Calculatus, owned by Qin Yu Pang

Trevor Breen with Highland President, owned by Heather Black

Daniel Coyle with Gisborne VDL, owned by Ariel Grange

Michael Duffy with Cinca 3, owned by Hibernian Sport Horses Ltd

Cian O’Connor with Eve D’Ouilly, owned by Nicole Walker

The team for Deauville is:

Conor Drain with Imagine, owned by Conor Viscaal

Jason Foley with Oscar V/H Hulstenhof, owned by Bruntwood Stables Bvba and Karel Cox Horses BV

Matt Garrigan with Quantum Robin V, owned by BWG Stables and SOVA Sporthorses GmbH

Diarmaid Howley with Uriga Va, owned by Manfred Von Allwörden

Jenny Rankin with Imar, owned by Barry O’Connor and Elizabeth Phillips

Speaking about the weekend Blake said:

“It’s great that we’re in a position to field strong teams for both Rotterdam and Deauville. We have a great depth of horses and riders at the moment and that’s really showing.

“Since May Ireland have competed in 8 Nations Cup competitions around the world, this weekend will bring this number up to 10. That is an incredible achievement for such a small country and also to see so many young riders coming through to senior ranks. We have recorded three wins in as many weeks and we are looking to this weekend.”

The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange

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