Ireland’s EEF Series season kicks off as Blake names team for CSIO3* Lier Nations Cup

The Underwriting Exchange Irish Show Jumping Team begin their EEF Series campaign on Friday in Lier, Belgium on Friday, April 18th.

Horse Sport Ireland High Performance Show Jumping Director Michael Blake has selected a five-strong squad as he bids to start the EEF season in style after an Irish runner-up finish in the series Final at Warsaw in 2024.

Blake has chosen Billy Twomey with Jumping Jack van de Kaleva, Seamus Hughes Kennedy with ESI Rocky (ISH), Niamh McEvoy with Jargon DN, Eoin McMahon with Cornest, and Rhys Williams with Universum Z.

Blake said: “We enjoyed an excellent campaign last year in the EEF Series and that culminated with a runner-up finish in Warsaw, which I was very happy with.

“The competition is all about developing young talent, as well as giving our horses the experience of jumping in the Nations Cup format, and it’s proven to be a very successful competition for doing that from both a rider and horse perspective.

“We have what looks like a strong team, with a mix of youth and experience there and I think it will be great for the likes of Rhys and Niamh to be here competing alongside the likes of Billy and Jason Foley, who is here as an individual and who himself made his senior debut with a fine performance to help the team win the Longines League of Nations first leg this year in Abu Dhabi.”

Ireland face 11 teams in Lier — hosts Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, — as they bid for crucial early points as on the championship journey towards the Series Final in Avenches, Switzerland this September.

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.