Irish Show Jumping teams named for double bill of Nations Cup action in Rome and Lisbon

Ireland will be represented by two full teams on a busy day of Nations Cup action tomorrow (Friday) – at Rome’s famous Piazza Di Siena in Italy and at the Hipódromo do Campo in Lisbon, Portugal.

Team manager Michael Blake has named what looks a very strong Irish team for the five-star Nations Cup of Rome – a trophy that has so far eluded the Irish since it’s first running almost 100 years ago in 1926.

Ireland have been drawn fourth to jump of the 10 teams taking part and line out as follows:

Wexford’s Bertram Allen with Pacino Amiro (ISH) – Owned by Aiden McGrory
Tipperary’s Denis Lynch with Cristello – Owned by Onyx Consulting Ltd
Meath’s Cian O’Connor with C Vier 2 – Owned by Susan Magnier
Offaly’s Darragh Kenny with VDL Cartello – Owned by Heathman Farm LLC

Irish riders have already made their mark in Rome this week, after Darragh Kenny and Volnay du Boisdeville took victory in Thursday’s 1m55 speed class when they crossed the line almost a second faster than Italian runner-up Giulia Martinengo Marquet and Scuderia 1918 Quick And Easy 3.

The Italian Nations Cup of Rome starts at 1.30pm Irish time on Friday afternoon and is live on Horse & Country TV.

Meanwhile on Friday evening, Taylor Vard will be Chef d’Equipe for the Irish team that are in three-star Longines EEF Nations Cup action at Lisbon in Portugal. Ireland will be looking to build on the impressive runner-up finish they achieved in EEF Nations Cup action last weekend in Slovakia and Vard has named his team for Lisbon as follows:

Sligo’s Richard Howley with Consulent De Prelet Z – Owned by Dalibor Kurek
Galway’s Jessica Burke with Namamia – Owned by Liam Nicholas
Sligo’s Kevin Gallagher with Ballypatrick Flamenco (ISH) – Owned by Greg Broderick
Tyrone’s Jenny Rankin with Carmela Z – Owned by Vanessa Mannix

The first round of the Longines EEF Nations Cup of Lisbon starts at 5.30pm Irish time with the second round under floodlights from 8.30pm and is live on ClipmyHorseTV.

The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange
Equiline – Official athlete clothing supplier of Horse Sport Ireland