Duffy (17) will fly out to China to take part in the Games immediately after competing at the Dublin Horse Show.

He will be accompanied to China by his parents Vinnie and Sandra, both well known internationally through Duffy’s Sports Horses, and Horse Sport Ireland’s Junior High Performance Manager Comdt. John Ledingham.

Ireland secured a place in the Games due to Bertram Allen’s silver medal at the European Junior Championships last year.

As Allen is now over age for the 2014 games, Duffy, who turns 18 in October, was nominated to the Olympic Council of Ireland by Horse Sport Ireland to represent his country at the Games

“I’m over the moon at being selected to represent Ireland at the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in China. It’s very exciting. I’ll be part of a five-rider European team and we will be riding on borrowed horses over there and taking part against equestrian teams from Asia and America,’’ Michael Duffy told The Irish Field yesterday.

“I’m on the European team along with riders from Holland, Sweden, Britain and Italy. We will be flying out on August 10th, straight after the RDS,’’ said Michael who will be back home on August 25th.

Duffy, who takes part in the Cork Munster Show this weekend, has enjoyed a great season to date over bigger three-star Grand Prix tracks.

He beat off over 60 riders to win a two-phase competition with Dorthe Kristiansen’s mare Eminent in Lisbon, Portugal in June, returning home to sit his leaving certificate exams just 48 hours later.

Lot of help

“It’s all rolled along this year very well and as always, I’ve received a lot of help from my brothers, Martin, who is here at home and Alex, who is based in Germany with Carl and Cameron Hanley and Jean Gill in Cork is a great help also,’’ he said.

The Knockmore rider also made his senior Nations Cup debut for Ireland at Odense this summer and won two international classes at the Danish venue.

The Nanjing 2014 Opening Ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre stadium on August 16th.

The competition starting the following day. Ireland is represented by 16 athletes in seven sports, with 14 performance support staff.