High Performance Eventing Manager Dag Albert has named Ireland’s Senior squad for the upcoming Agria FEI Eventing European Championship.
Albert has chosen an experienced sextet for the championship taking place at the UK venue in just over two weeks, with Olympians Susie Berry, Sarah Ennis, Padraig McCarthy and Aoife Clark joined by Ian Cassells and Robbie Kearns in the squad.
Coming off 2024 Nations Cup successes at home in Millstreet and at Boekelo, and with new, exciting combinations coming through the ranks, Albert is hopeful of a positive result at the championship having had a difficult decision to finalise his squad of six.
He said: “I’m looking forward to it. It was very tough to end up on a squad of six, such is the depth of talent we have at the moment but the squad is very experienced and the horses are in great form.
“I think it’s going to be a tough test – particularly cross country. Mark Phillips is course designer and he produces very strong cross country courses but I think that will suit our horses and riders.
“You look at the squad we have chosen – Sarah, Aoife and Susie competed in Paris and Padraig has previously competed at the Olympics, while Robbie and Ian have both been on winning teams for us recently so I’ll be hopeful of performing well.
“Obviously eventing is a tough sport and you always do need an element of luck but if we get that we should be thereabouts. We’re all very much looking forward to it.”
The Irish Senior Eventing Squad for the Agria FEI Eventing Championship at Blenheim Palace, in alphabetical order, is:
- Susie Berry – Clever Trick (ISH) – groom Crisy Salmon – owned by Anne Marling & Sue Wilkinson
- Ian Cassells – Millridge Atlantis (ISH)- groom Leanne Foster – owned by Gerry Leahy, Fiona Leahy & Ber Leahy
- Aoife Clark – Full Monty de Lacense – groom Natalie Wallace – owned by Ace of Spades Syndicate
- Sarah Ennis – Dourough Ferro Class Act (ISH) groom Emily Singleton – owned by James Potterton & Niki Potterton
- Robbie Kearns – Chance Encounter (ISH) – groom Maxine Rae – owned by Richard Ames
- Padraig McCarthy – Pomp ‘n’ Circumstance – groom Keara Schmidt – owned by Rachel Gough & Sarah Gough
Non travelling reserves in alphabetical order:
- Georgie Goss – Kojak – groom Shauna Carman – owned by Molly Fisher, Lucy Fleming, Samantha Williams & Georgie Goss
- Joseph Murphy – Calmaro – groom Gillian Smyth – owned by Richard Ames, Tanya Ames, Alan Bell & Annette O’Callaghan
- Austin O’Connor – Sixmilewater (ISH) – groom Jess Elliott – owned by Nicky Bennell
BREEDING:
Clever Trick (ISH) – 2015 mare by FINANCIAL REWARD out of BONNIE DOLLY. Breeder: Vincent Cousins . Owner: Ann Marling and Sue Wilkinson, ridden by Susie Berry
Millridge Atlantis (ISH) – 2014 gelding by Dinan Cascaletto (ISH) out of Kereen Sue (ISH) by Warrenstown You 2 (ISH). Breeder: Sean O’Loughlin, Co Kilkenny. Owner: Fiona Leahy and Gerry Leahy
Dourough Ferro Class Act (ISH)– 2015 gelding by S CREEVAGH FERRO (KWPN) out of ISHD CLASS ACT (ISH) by O.B.O.S. QUALITY 004 (OLD). Bred by Gordon Drury, owned by James and Niki Potterton, ridden by Sarah Ennis.
Chance Encounter VII. (ISH)(TIH) – 2009 gelding by Creevagh Grey Rebel (ID) out of Camedia (TB) by Lord Americo (TB). Breeder: Robin Johnson (Antrim). Rider: Robbie Kearns (IRL)
Sixmilewater (ISH) [was Sixmilewater Quality] – 2014 gelding by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Kelseys Kingdom (ISH)[TIH] by Buster King (TB). Breeder: Denis O’Riordan (Cork). Rider: Austin O’Connor (IRL)
The Irish High Performance Programme is exclusively funded by Horse Sport Ireland and Sport Ireland
Bucas – official supplier to Horse Sport Ireland’s High Performance programme
The Irish Senior Eventing Team is kindly sponsored by Dubarry
