Michael Blake makes one change ahead of FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona – Three Irish Sport Horses included

All eyes will be on the city of Barcelona in Spain tomorrow (Sunday) as Michael Blake’s Irish Show Jumping team take their place in the 2022 Longines FEI Nations Cup Final at the Real Club de Polo.

Ireland secured their spot as one of the top eight teams in the grand final with a hugely impressive runner-up finish in Thursday’s qualifying round and Blake has made one change to his team for the final, with Kildare’s Mikey Pender coming in for Mark McAuley.

Ireland will be the second-last team to enter the arena and line-out as follows:

Galway’s Andrew Bourns with Sea Topblue (ISH) – owned by Andrew Bourns & QBS Equestrian LLC
Tipperary’s Trevor Breen with Highland President – owned by Heather Black
Kildare’s Mikey Pender with HHS Calais (ISH) – owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd
Kilkenny’s Jack Ryan with BBS McGregor (ISH) – owned by Marguerite Ryan

In further proof of the strength of Irish breeding, the Irish team for the final includes no less than three Irish Sport Horses.

Jack Ryan and BBS McGregor (ISH) Photo: Helen Cruden

One of those, BBS McGregor (ISH), will be ridden by rising star, Kilkenny’s Jack Ryan (21) who produced a brilliant clear in Thursday’s qualifier.

“McGregor is very special, my mother bred him and he’s been a fantastic horse. He’s a great character and everything he’s been asked to do so far he’s done it with ease. He has a big heart and every time he goes in the ring he wants to do his best and you can’t ask for more than that!”, Ryan said.

The 2022 Longines FEI Nations Cup Final gets underway at 2pm Irish time on Sunday afternoon and is live on FEITV.

BREEDING
Sea Topblue (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Chacco Blue (MECKL) out of Sea Top Lady (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN). Breeders: James & John Meade, Co. Clare. Owner: Andrew Bourns & QBS Equestrian. Rider: Andrew Bourns (IRL).

HHS Calais (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Cavalier Royale (HOLST) out of MHS OBOS Cruise (ISH) by OBOS Quality (OLD). Breeder: Ita Brennan, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).

BBS McGregor (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Cardento (HOLST) out of Random Chance (ISH) by Mark Twain (TB) bred and owned by Marguerite Ryan ridden by Jack Ryan.

The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange

Charles Ancona – Official athlete clothing supplier to HSI’s Senior Olympic programmes