Irish Show Jumping squad named for Friday’s Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain at Hickstead

With just two rounds remaining in the 2019 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Series, Irish team manager Rodrigo Pessoa has named his squad for this Friday’s penultimate leg at Hickstead in Great Britain, where Ireland will enter the arena as defending champions.

The victorious Irish team pictured on the podium after winning the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain in 2018

The Irish squad, sponsored by Devenish and The Underwriting Exchange, for the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain is:

Louth’s Mark McAuley with Utchan De Belheme – owned by Charlotte Mordasini
Waterford’s Anthony Condon with SFS Aristio – owned by Anthony Condon & John Hales
Kerry’s Capt. Brian Cournane with Armik – owned by Brian Cournane, Bob & Christine Stiller
Galway’s Michael Duffy with Mullaghdrin Touch The Stars (ISH) – owned by Jessie Drea & Lynne Humphries
Limerick’s Paul O’Shea with Imerald Van’t Voorhof – owned by Tequestrian Farms LLC

Ireland come to Hickstead in eighth place on the league table, however four of the teams above Ireland (Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany) have just one more opportunity to gain league points, while France and Austria have already completed their four allocated points-scoring rounds and so cannot add to their points tally.

A good result in Hickstead followed by a positive performance in the Aga Khan at the Dublin Horse Show a fortnight later, would see Ireland safely qualify for the Nations Cup final, which once again takes place in Barcelona this October.
Along with Ireland, the teams chasing points in Hickstead include Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Italy and the home team from Britain, while USA and Brazil will also line-out but are not eligible for points.

Rodrigo Pessoa will confirm his four starting riders for the Hickstead Nations Cup on Thursday with Friday’s competition starting at 2.15pm.

The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by Devenish and The Underwriting Exchange
Equiline – Official athlete clothing supplier of Team Ireland Equestrian