THE four show jumpers who won a gold medal at the FEI European Championships last month in Gothenburg will be joined by Shane Breen at the Nations Cup World Final in Barcelona next week

Naming his squad for his first final as team manager, Rodrigo Pessoa has stuck with the experienced team of Bertram Allen, who rides Molly Malone V instead of his European mount Hector van d’Abdijhoeve, Cian O’Connor (Good Luck), Denis Lynch (All Star 5) and Shane Sweetnam (Chaqui Z). Breen will ride either Laith or Ipswich Van De Wolfsakker.

“This will be our closing Nations Cup of the season and we are putting forward what we believe to be a strong squad. We will be trying to make it through to the final on Saturday. All eyes will be on us fresh from being crowned European Champions and we will be hoping for a good result,” Pessoa said.

Since winning the gold medal, O’Connor, who also won individual bronze, jumped in the CP International $3m Grand Prix in Spruce Meadows with Good Luck, finishing 12th. Lynch’s All Star 5 and Sweetnam’s Chaqui Z have not jumped in an FEI competition since the championships.

The world final is one of the more lucrative Nations Cup competitions on the circuit, boasting €1.7 million in prize money, with a bonus of €100,000 for riders who jump a double clear in the first and final round. Jumping at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona begins on Thursday, September 28th, where 18 teams will line out for the opening round.

The top eight will go through to the world final on Saturday. The 10 teams who do not qualify for the final will contest the consolation final on Friday night. It will be shown live on FEI TV.