Horse Sport Ireland announces long list for European Eventing Championships

IRELAND’S Eventing High Performance Manager, Nick Turner has announced the following list of horses and riders from which six combinations will be selected to represent the country at the European championships in Malmo in Sweden, which take place from 29th August to 1st September.

The long list is, in alphabetical order:

Clare Abbott with Euro Prince (Owned by Cormac McKay)

Aoife Clark with Master Crusoe  (Owned by Lily White Syndicate)

Sarah Ennis with Sugar Brown Babe (Owned by Miriam Cunning)

Jonty Evans with Double Dutch (Owned by Jonty Evans) and Winston (Owned by Fiona Elliott)

Aidan Keogh with Master Tredstep (Owned by Patrick Hughes)

Mark Kyle with Just Otto (Owned by Howard Green)

Joseph Murphy with Electric Cruise (Owned by Noel Good, Jill Andrews, Annette O’Callaghan and Michelle Nelson), Sportsfield Othello (Owned by Jill Andrews and FFS Syndicate) and DHI Topstory (Owned by Suzanne Finlay)

Jim Newsam with Magennis (Owned by Tom and Margaret Newsam)

Austin O’Connor with GFG Rambo Man (Owned by Sam Watson, Going For Gold Syndicate and Horseware Ltd) and Ringwood Mississippi (Owned by Kate Jarvey)

Elizabeth Power with September Bliss (Owned by Margaret and Robert Power)

Michael Ryan with Ballylynch Skyport (Owned by Carol and Tom Henry and Sheila Foley)

Sam Watson with Horseware Bushman (Owned by John and Julia Watson and Tom MacGuinness)

The Team, Individuals and reserves will be named in the week after the CIC3* in Camphire, which ends on Sunday July 28th.

Speaking after announcing the list, Nick Turner said: “Ten of the combinations on the list have competed at four star level this year in Badminton or Luhmuhlen. I am keen to encourage riders to compete at four star level as I think it is very important to have top level experience in the big competitions against the big name riders. A number also did well in Tattersalls.

“It’s a pity that we have lost a few horses who would have been strong contenders for the team. However it opens opportunities for new combinations and with WEG next year, it provides an opportunity to widen the base of combinations with championship experience,” he explained.

Riders will attend training in Ireland and the UK with Eventing Show Jumping Coach Ian Fearon and the newly appointed Eventing Dressage Coach, Terry Boon.

Nick Turner said: “Terry was a very good rider himself at the highest level and is making a big impact as a dressage coach. He has done a great job with the Irish Junior team and is passionate about bringing the Irish team forward.

“Ian Fearon has done an outstanding job as show jumping trainer for the Irish team. This is recognised internationally and I am delighted that he has remained on board as jumping coach. He knows all the riders well and has been really helpful since I took up the role earlier this year.”