INVESTEC and Horse Sport Ireland today announced a sponsorship partnership that will see Investec confirmed as the first ever corporate sponsor for the Irish show jumping team.

The partnership will see Investec sponsoring Team Ireland’s involvement in the Dublin Horse Show and FEI European Championships at Aachen, Germany, which are vital for Ireland to gain qualification for the Rio Olympics next year.

It was not revealed what the value of the new sponsorship deal actually is.

Ireland now has eight riders placed in the world's top 100 rankings with Wexford's Bertram Allen highest at number seven.

Allen was on hand along with Captain Michael Kelly and Greg Broderick for the announcement along with Investec’s own iconic equine brand ambassador – its well-known Zebra, ‘Nairobi’.

Chief executive at Investec in Ireland, Michael Cullen, said: “Investec is really pleased to partner with Horse Sport Ireland this summer as it finalises its preparations to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Ireland is an exemplar in the equestrian world – renowned for breeding world-class horses and developing show jumping talent to compete with the very best at international level.

"Its commitment to excellence reflects our own focus in Investec on being the very best at what we do. This latest sponsorship builds on many high profile and enduring engagements Investec has both in Ireland and internationally with leading teams and individual sporting figures in golf, rugby, hockey and horse racing.”

Chairman of Horse Sport Ireland, Professor Patrick Wall, said: “We are delighted to welcome Investec as sponsor of Team Ireland for the Dublin Horse Show and the FEI European Championships at Aachen, Germany.

"We are entering a crucial phase in qualification for the Rio Games in 2016 and support from Investec, which has developed so many winning partnerships, will give Team Ireland added support when we need it most.”