With just 17 days to go before the FEI European Championships for Ponies opens in Millstreet, Co Cork, Horse Sport Ireland has named the Irish squads that will compete in dressage, eventing and show jumping squads.
The three-rider dressage squad consists of Katie Burns and Caracas II, Alana Cazabon Sullivan and Schermeer S Hof Arendsoog and Linnea Larkin with Goofy.
Ireland’s pony dressage team manager Anne Marie Dunphy said she was delighted to present the first team of the HSI high performance dressage programme at the championships.
“The support we are receiving from equestrian enthusiasts across all disciplines has been overwhelming and we look forward to welcoming the other nations to Millstreet,” she said.
In eventing, six riders have been named in the squad, from which team manager Polly Holohan will choose four team members after the trot-up at Millstreet.
The six combinations in the squad are Sophie Buller (G Maha), Fionn Clarke (Black Velvet Band), Patrick Dennehy (Rose Down), Lucy Hancock (Newtown Westie), Shannon Sheridan (Drop The Subject) and Mary Smiddy (Mr Hale Bob).
Two squad reserve riders will also compete at Millstreet as individuals; these are Emma Kennedy (Laburnum Ineer) and Maresa Ronan (My Rustic Clover).
As the host nation, Ireland is allowed to also run additional individual riders and these are Lucy Arkwright (Sally McNally), Jessica Kuehnle (Fernhill Ruby), Isabel Persse (Mr Blueskies) and Alex Power (Keredern Little Heather).
Eventing team manager Polly Holohan said she was very happy with the squad selected for Millstreet.
“The riders have risen to the challenge and the selection process has worked well. It is also a wonderful opportunity, with the championships being on home ground, to be able to field 12 combinations,” she said.
SHOW JUMPING
Pony show jumping manager Tom Slattery will select a team of four riders from the five-rider squad announced yesterday, which includes Nicholas Connors (Mighty Patch), Susan Fitzpatrick (Rock Dee Jay), Grace McHugh (Cassandra Van Het Roelhof), Sean Monaghan (Attyrory Rebel) and Michael Pender (Doon Laddie).
Kayleigh Soden and Castle Hill King were named as the reserve combination.
Slattery said that although his team was young and relatively inexperienced, he was confident they would step up to the mark and do Ireland proud.
“With a bit of luck on the day I think we can secure a medal,” he added.
Making the announcement, Horse Sport Ireland acknowledged the support of Team Ireland Equestrian’s official sponsors and suppliers; Berney Brothers Kilcullen, Comfybed, Dubarry Ireland, Glanbia GAIN Horse Feeds, Horseware, Charles Owen and TRM.
Turn to page A59 for a sneak preview of the European Championships cross-country course at Millstreet.
The event is expectd to generate some €6.9 million for the local economy and will include showcases for the Connemara breed and junior/young rider show jumping and event horses.
Meanwhile, Horse Sport Ireland has also confirmed the entries for the Children, Junior and Young Rider European Championships to be held in Arezzo, Italy between July 22nd and 27th.
The children on horses team consists of Emelie Larkin (Flexing), Abby Morton (Patchmills Laura), Harry Allen (Wild Thing L), Jack Ryan (Cavalier Teaca) and Killian Ryan (Miss Souri).
The junior team includes Noelle Barry (Norway Venture), Michael G Duffy (Bocello), Lucinda Roche (Quiberon D), Matt Garrigan (Quentucky Jolly) and Cormac Hanley (Wido).
The young rider team conists of Jonathan Gordon (Bario Van T Marten Donkerf), Hayley Dunne (Flintstone De TiJi), Jack Dodd (Player Du Quesnoy), Kellie Allen (Oreal Des Etains Z) and Paul Kennedy (Cartown Danger Mouse).
With Comdt. John Ledingham as chef d’equipe for all three teams travelling to Arrezzo, they will be hoping to emulate the successes of 2011 and 2012 when the Irish children on horses and junior teams brought home gold medals.