Two Irish Show Jumping teams set for Nations Cup action in Spain and Canada

Another busy weekend of Show Jumping on both sides of the Atlantic will see Ireland represented by two teams in Nations Cup action over the next two days –  in Spain and Canada.

(l-r) Jenny Rankin, Richard Howley, Taylor Vard (Chef d’Equipe) Kevin Gallagher and Jessica Burke go in search of their second Nations Cup win this weekend in Madrid.

Just a week after taking victory in the Longines EEF Nations Cup at Lisbon in Portugal, Taylor Vard will once again take charge of the Irish team for Saturday’s three-star Longines EEF Nations Cup at Madrid in Spain.

Vard has named an unchanged side from the one that took victory in Lisbon and Ireland, who are drawn eighth to jump of 10 teams, line out 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 Longines EEF Nations Cup of Madrid gets underway at 3.30pm Irish time on Saturday afternoon and will be shown live on the European Equestrian Federation website HERE 

Conor Swail and Theo 160. Photo by tbird/Quinn Saunders

 

Ireland are also in five-star Longines FEI Nations Cup action on Sunday at Langley, British Columbia in Canada. Ireland will take on The United States, Mexico, Australia, Israel and the home team from Canada, with $400,000 up for grabs.

Irish team manager Michael Blake has selected the following quartet:

Galway’s Andrew Bourns with Sea Topblue (ISH) – owned by Andrew Bourns & QBS Equestrian

Derry’s Daniel Coyle with Legacy – owned by Daniel Coyle & Ariel Grange

Down’s Conor Swail with Count Me In – owned by Sandy Lupton & Mannon Farm

Cork’s Shane Sweetnam with James Kann Cruz (ISH) – owned by Gizmo Partners

Irish riders have already made an excellent start to the five-star Canadian fixture, with Conor Swail taking victory in the Welcome Class with Theo 160, while Daniel Coyle finished second with Ivory TCS.

Sunday’s Longines FEI Nations Cup of Canada starts at 10pm Irish time and is live on FEITV/ClipMyHorseTV

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.

CSF James Kann Cruz (ISH) by Kannan (KWPN) out of CSF Telly Cruz (ISH) by Cruising(ISH) [TIH] Breeder: Patrick Connolly

Ballypatrick Flamenco (ISH) – 2010 gelding by Je T’Aime Flamenco (BWP) out of Cruise Leaf (ISH)[TIH] by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Noel Cawley, Co. Kildare.

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