HORSE SPORT IRELAND ANNOUNCES SQUAD FOR HICKSTEAD NATIONS’ CUP

HORSE Sport Ireland’s  show jumping team manager Robert Splaine tonight (Tuesday) announced the Irish squad for the Hickstead Nations’ Cup in England on August 1st.

The five-strong squad, from which Splaine will select his team of four prior to the Nations’ Cup is, in alphabetical order:

Bertram Allen/Molly Malone V
Shane Breen/Golden Hawk
Cameron Hanley/Antello Z
Darragh Kenny/Imothep
Denis Lynch/Abbervail van het Dingeshof

Speaking today, Robert Splaine commented: “My choice of Hickstead as a points-scoring venue for the Furusiyya league just before Dublin is opportune, but not just for that reason.

“With Hickstead being held the week directly before Dublin it gives me the opportunity to view all of our World Equestrian Games (WEG) contenders in action at five star level within the space of two weeks.

“Therefore once Dublin is over, and with current and previous form at hand, this will put me in the best possible position to make my WEG selections, as they have to be made made soon after Dublin.”

On Monday, Splaine announced the Irish squad from which he will select the team to compete in the Aga Khan Trophy competition on August 8 in Dublin.

They are:

Bertram Allen/Molly Malone V
Dermott Lennon/Loughview Lou Lou (ISH)
Denis Lynch/All Star 5
Cian O’Connor/Quidam’s Cherie
Billy Twomey/Diaghilev

The show jumping element of the World Equestrian Games, which will be an Olympic qualifying event, takes place in Normandy, France in the first week of September.

Robert Splaine