Ireland’s Youth Eventing High Performance team managers confirmed up to 2024

Horse Sport Ireland are delighted to announce the appointment of the three team managers for Ireland’s Youth Eventing High Performance Programme up to October 31st 2024.

Sue Shortt has been reappointed as U21 (Young Rider) and U25 team manager, Dag Albert has also been reappointed as U18 (Junior) team manager while Jane Kinsella has been appointed as Pony (U16) team manager.

Denis Duggan, who took up his position as the new CEO of Horse Sport Ireland this week said:

“I am delighted to see the calibre of team managers that have come forward for the Eventing High Performance Youth Programmes and I am looking forward to working with all of them during 2022 and beyond and hopefully securing more podium places at Championship level.”

Sue Shortt has held the position of High Performance Team Manager for Ireland’s Under 21 (Young Rider) Eventing team since 2019. A native of Kildare, Sue has represented Ireland in Eventing at Under 18, Under 21 and Senior level including the Athens and Sydney Olympic Games and the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain. From 2005 to 2013, Sue was High Performance Team Manager for the Irish Pony team during which time the team and individual riders achieved numerous medal successes at European Championship level. In 2021, Sue was team manager of the GAIN Equine Nutrition Irish Young Rider (U21) Eventing team that won the silver medal at the FEI European Eventing Championships in Segersjö, Sweden.

Speaking after her reappointment as U21 (Young Rider) and U25 team manager, Sue Short said:

“I am delighted to renew my contract with Horse Sport Ireland for a further three years. We have a large squad of riders again this year, including five combinations that were part of the silver medal winning team in 2021. I am really looking forward to working with all the riders and hopefully we can go one better in 2022!”

Dag Albert and Sue Shortt

Swedish-born Dag Albert was first appointed to the position of High Performance Team Manager for Ireland’s Under 18 (Junior) Eventing team in 2019. Dag is one of Sweden’s most experienced Eventing riders. He has successfully represented his country at Under 16, 18 and Under 21 level and is a BE Accredited Coach. Dag has competed numerous times at Badminton and Burghley International Horse Trials and has represented his country at European and World Championships along with the Olympic Games at Atlanta in 1996 and Beijing in 2008. Dag managed the GAIN Equine Nutrition Irish Junior (U18) team to a sixth place finish at the 2021 European Championships in Segersjö, Sweden.

Dag Albert commented:

“I am delighted to have been re-appointed as Junior Eventing team manager. We have a very talented group of riders in the Junior High Performance squad including four riders who competed at last year’s European Championships so they bring a lot of experience with them. We also have some exciting riders moving up from ponies. The squad has already started training and we are looking forward to the season ahead.”

A native of Kildare and now living in Meath, Jane Kinsella (pictured) has a PhD in Parasitology, a QQI level 6 in training, delivery and evaluation. Jane is a HSI Level 2 coach and is currently completing the Coach Developer course with Sport Ireland. Jane has represented Ireland in Eventing at European Championship level and has over 20 years High Performance coaching experience. She coaches from grass roots to 5* level and has a proven track record of delivering success at the highest level in both Eventing and Show Jumping. Jane has coached athletes on every Pony Eventing European squad since 2013, securing many top ten and medal winning performances.

Jane was awarded ‘HSI Development Coach of the year in 2017 and is looking forward to taking up the position of Irish Pony Eventing team manager:

“I am delighted to accept the role of High Performance team manager for Ireland’s Pony Eventing team. I would like to thank Horse Sport Ireland for this opportunity and I am looking forward to working with the incredibly talented riders and their associated support networks. The Irish Pony squads have been hugely successful over the last number of years and I aim, not only to maintain and improve upon the medal successes at European Championship level, but also to develop strength and depth in the Pony squad, producing well-educated, competitive riders of the future.“