FOLLOWING the stellar performance of Irish anchor man Ian Cassells (UCD) at the Cork leg of the AIEC Student Riding Nations Cup (SRNC) series, Ireland has qualified for a coveted spot in the gold league at the World Finals to be held in The Netherlands in the new year.

Cassells scooped the top spots in individual show jumping, dressage and overall combined rider at the event held in Ballindenisk earlier this month.

Prior to the SRNC on home turf, team Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for the premier tier of student riding, the gold league was held precariously in the balance. Ireland were gripping on to the fourth and final available spot on 105 points, just ahead of team Norway on 104. With the riding scores of Cassells’ team-mates Tommy Harty (UCC) and Claudia O’Donoghue (UL) taken into consideration, Ireland qualified easily in third position alongside The Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium.

The four qualified nations will join the 2015 gold and silver league champions, Germany and Switzerland, in the world finals for the gold league later in the year with non-qualifying nations joining the silver league final.

Cassells, who was dressage champion at the 2015 world finals in Marburg, Germany, second at the world championships in Sweden this year, and SRNC Ireland Individual champion, will be hoping to secure a spot on the always competitive Irish team for the upcoming finals again.

The international SRNC series brings top young riders from all over the world together to compete in both dressage and show jumping on unfamiliar horses, at the highest level, often reaching up to 1.40m, and Prix St George and freestyle to music.

“The series creates great life-long friendships over all the years. We are more like family than friends now. There’s always a fantastic atmosphere at the competition with social activities and top riders,” says Gary Flynn, director of competitions at the World University Equestrian Federation (AIEC).

Irish student riders have proven themselves at international level with team and individual medals gained at the world championships earlier in the year and several podium performances at the SRNC legs.