World number one-ranked Ireland team named for League of Nations opener
- 30 January 2025, 14:40
Ireland’s Longines League of Nations campaign begins in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, next month with Michael Blake naming his quartet for the first leg of the 2025 series.
The Underwriting Exchange Irish team are the world number one-ranked nation heading into the prestigious series and last year finished on top of the league table before coming fourth in the final. Hopes are high for another successful campaign, beginning in Abu Dhabi.
Blake has named his four riders to jump in round one, with a blend of youth and experience in the saddle.
Tipperary men Denis Lynch and Trevor Breen will ride Vistogrand and Highland President respectively, while Kildare’s Mikey Pender with HHS Calais (ISH) and Carlow’s Jason Foley, with his new mount Chedington Hazy Toulana, complete the team.
Breen, who makes his team return following injury, won the four-star World Cup class last weekend in Dubai, a perfect warm-up for the Nations Cup.
Pender and Foley are the young guns of the team, with HHS Calais (ISH) having proved himself to be a top-class performer under pressure, highlighted by his exceptional performance which helped deliver a Rome Nations Cup win in 2023, Ireland’s first in almost a century.
Foley’s new mount Chedington Hazy Toulana has also a wealth of experience at the highest level, and has jumped in Nations Cups under previous rider, Australia’s Christopher Burton. Foley himself is no stranger to pressure, having been a part of many successful Irish teams.

Denis Lynch and Vistogrand jumping in the jump-off on the way to a second-placed finish in the five star World Cup in Amsterdam
Lynch and Vistogrand have been in scintillating form of late, placing second in both the Grand Prix and World Cup at the five-star Amsterdam show last weekend and will be brimming with confidence.
Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping High Performance Director Blake said: “I’m very excited and am looking forward to starting the campaign with four great riders in the saddle.
“We obviously had a great Longines League of Nations series in 2024 and this year, we’re hoping for more of the same. The win in Ocala was very special and of course it was a huge achievement to finish top of the league.
“The four lads chosen are all huge talents and in excellent form, and there is a great team spirit with them – we’ll be doing our very best to try emulate last year’s runner-up finish, or maybe go one better.”
The Underwriting Exchange Irish Show Jumping team, in alphabetical order, is as follows:
Tipperary’s Trevor Breen with Highland President, owned by Heather Black
Carlow’s Jason Foley with Chedington Hazy Toulana, owned by Chedington Equestrian
Tipperary’s Denis Lynch with Vistogrand, owned by Tipperary’s Finest and Denis Lynch
Kildare’s Mikey Pender with HHS Calais (ISH), owned by Hughes Horse Stud
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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