IRISH show jumping team manager Rodrigo Pessoa has named his team, sponsored by Devenish and The Underwriting Exchange, for the Longines FEI Nations Cup World Final, which starts today, Thursday, September 28th at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain.
Ireland travel to the world final as newly-crowned European Champions following a stunning gold medal win in Gothenburg (SWE) last month.
Ireland qualified for the final based on their finishing position in this year’s European Division 1 Nations Cup series, which concluded with the Aga Khan competition at last month’s Dublin Horse Show.
The Irish squad is:
Wexford’s Bertram Allen with Molly Malone V – owned by Ballywalter Farms
Tipperary’s Shane Breen with Laith – owned by Team Z7 or Ipswich Van De Wolfsakker – owned by Breen Equestrian, Jos Lansink & Konstantin Pysarenko
Tipperary’s Denis Lynch with All Star 5 – owned by Thomas Straumann & Denis Lynch
Cork’s Shane Sweetnam with Chaqui Z – owned by Spy Coast Farm LLC & Shane Sweetnam
The noticeable absentee is Cian O'Connor's individual bronze medal-winning horse Good Luck. Rodrigo Pessoa said: “After all combinations jumped in today's warm up class we felt Cian’s mount Good Luck was not super comfortable and looks like he may have pulled something in his shoulder and so we have decided not to take any risk with such a special horse. He will go for further examination and hope for a speedy recovery.”
A total of 15 teams will compete at the Longines FEI Nations Cup World Final, which boasts a prize fund of €1.7 million. There is a bonus pot of €150,000 for riders who can jump clear in both the first round and final and challenge cup final.
The competition starts today (Thursday) at 13.30 GMT, where all 15 teams will line out. The top eight teams from the opening competition will go forward to the final on Saturday, September 30th at 20.00 GMT, with the remaining 10 teams entering the Challenge Cup final on Friday 29th. All classes can be viewed live on FEI TV.
TIMETABLE
LONGINES FEI NATIONS CUP™ JUMPING FINAL – FIRST ROUND
Thursday, September 28th (13.30 Irish time)
All 15 teams, with 4 riders per team, participate in the first round not against the clock. The top eight teams qualify for the final, the rest (seven teams) move on to the Longines FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final Challenge Cup
LONGINES FEI NATIONS CUP™ JUMPING FINAL CHALLENGE CUP
Friday, September 29th (20.00h)
The teams who finished 9 -15 (4 riders per team) participate. This competition is run with an initial round not against the clock with a jump-off against the clock in case of equality of penalties for the first place.
LONGINES FEI NATIONS CUP™ JUMPING FINAL-FINAL COMPETITION
Saturday, September 30th (20.00h)
The Final is open to teams placed 1-8 in the 1st round competition. The competition hosts four athletes per team with an initial round not against the clock with a jump-off against the clock in case of equality of penalties for the first place.