Trevor Breen included as Blake names Ireland team for first Nations Cup of 2025
- 20 January 2025, 14:44

The Irish team, led by Michael Blake, of David Simpson, Trevor Breen, Shane Breen and Mikey Pender, who will compete in Sharjah
The Underwriting Exchange Irish Senior Show Jumping team kick off their 2025 Nations Cup season in Sharjah on February 2nd, and will see the return of Trevor Breen to international team action for the first time since his career-threatening injury last May.
Breen underwent emergency surgery and was placed in an induced coma after suffering three fractures to his neck and spine following a fall from Highland President during the Grand Prix of Hamburg, and the combination will form part of the quartet for the four-star event.
Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping High Performance Director Michael Blake has chosen a typically strong quartet to open the campaign as they bid to improve on last year’s fifth-place finish in the United Arab Emirates.
Joining Breen and Highland President will be his brother Shane with Z7 Oilina, Mikey Pender with HHS Calais (ISH) and David Simpson with Mambo NR 5 B.
Blake said: “We’re very much looking forward to getting the campaign up and running and Sharjah is the perfect starting point as we build towards the first leg of the Longines League of Nations in Abu Dhabi.
“The four guys are proven performers in the green jacket and obviously I’m delighted to see Trevor back representing his country after his fall and injuries. His recovery has been remarkable because everyone was very worried, and it shows the level of his resilience and character that he is already back jumping in a Nations Cup so early.
“All four of them have been in good form recently, picking up some excellent results, so I’m hopeful of a strong performance before we move on to the big one a couple of weeks later.”
The Underwriting Exchange Irish Senior Show Jumping team, in alphabetical order, is as follows:
Tipperary’s Shane Breen with Z7 Oilina, owned by Team Z7
Tipperary’s Trevor Breen with Highland President, owned by Heather Black
Kildare’s Michael Pender with HHS Calais (ISH), owned by Hughes Horse Stud
Derry’s David Simpson with Mambo Nr 5 B, owned by Faye Potter
BREEDING: 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).
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