Ireland’s senior show jumpers are in double action again this weekend, aiming to build on last Sunday’s four star Langley Nations Cup win as teams compete at La Baule and Drammen.
Horse Sport Ireland High Performance Show Jumping Manager Michael Blake has brought a strong team to France for what is a star-studded event tomorrow (Friday), with some of the world’s biggest names in action as 10 teams bid for glory.
Blake blends youth and experience for the five-star heat, choosing Bertram Allen, Seamus Hughes Kennedy, Tom Wachman and Cian O’Connor to represent The Underwriting Exchange Irish team. Shane Sweetnam will act as fifth member of the squad.
It is a who’s who of international showjumping, with Ireland drawn first to jump and nine teams in oppostion; Belgium, Brazil, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.
Among the team sheets are the likes of world number one Kent Farrington, double world champion Henrick von Eckermann, European Champion Steve Guerdat and a host of major medalists.
Tom Wachman and Hawaii won the CSIO5* 1.45m Prix Boss Equestrian at La Baule
Blake, however, is hopeful of another strong showing from his team, who were give a confidence boost this afternoon with Tom Wachman winning the CSIO5* 1.45m Prix Boss Equestrian with Hawaii before world number eight Cian O’Connor finished second in the Grand Prix qualifier on board Gengis Kann De Londe.
Blake said: “That was a nice win for Tom and Hawaii, and an excellent round from Cian and it sets them up nicely for the Nations Cup.
“We have picked a strong team, with Bertram and Cian in there alongside Tom and Seamus, who have both progressed through our Youth High Performance Programme and latterly the EEF Series, and both are now very much part of the senior fold having gained such valuable experience in those settings.
“We’re under no illusions as to the task we face, as some of the teams have sent some of their biggest guns, but our riders and horses are all riding with confidence themselves and I’m looking forward to it. We had a very good win in Langley at the weekend and it has been a quick turnover to be here in France but that shows our strength in depth and we’ll give it all we’ve got.”
Cian O’Connor finished second in the CSIO5* Grand Prix qualifier at La Baule with Gengis Kann De Londe
The Underwiting Exchange Irish Show Jumping Team for the La Baule CSIO5* Nations Cup, with the action beginning at 12.30pm Irish time, is:
- Bertram Allen with Qonquest De Rigo, owned by Ballwalter Stables
- Seamus Hughes Kennedy with ESI Rocky (ISH), owned by Clare Hughes
- Tom Wachman with Tabasco De Toxandria Z, owned by Coolmore Showjumping
- Cian O’Connor with Bentley De Sury, owned by Karlswood Partners
In Drammen, Norway, on Saturday, Taylor Vard will deputise for Blake. leading the team jumping in the CSIO3* EEF Series.
Alexander Butler, Anthony Condon, Eoin McMahon and Jeremy Sweetnam will line up in green jackets, with Sean Monaghan acting as the fifth member of the squad.
BREEDING:
ESI Rocky (ISH) 2015 gelding by Stakkato Gold (HANN) out of Clonaslea (BWP) by For Pleasure (HANN) Breeder: Ennisnag Stud owned by Clare Hughes ridden by Seamus Hughes-Kennedy.
The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange
Charles Ancona – Official athlete clothing supplier to Horse Sport Ireland’s Senior Olympic programmes
Bucas – official supplier to Horse Sport Ireland’s High Performance programme
The Irish High Performance Show Jumping Programme is exclusively funded by Sport Ireland
