WITH just over a week to go before the start of Ireland's biggest annual equestrian event, the Stena Line Dublin Horse Show at the RDS, Irish show jumping team manager Rodrigo Pessoa today (Monday) named his team for the Longines FEI Nations Cup of Ireland for the Aga Khan trophy.

The 2019 Irish Aga Khan team, sponsored by Devenish and The Underwriting Exchange is:

Meath’s Cian O’Connor with PSG Final – owned by Ronnoco Jump Ltd

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny with Important De Muze – owned by Kerry Anne LLC

Limerick’s Paul O’Shea with Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu – owned by Machu Picchu Partners LLC

Cork’s Shane Sweetnam with Chaqui Z – owned by Spy Coast Farm LLC

Reserve - Waterford's Peter Moloney with Ornellaia - owned by Team Harmony

History was made at the RDS last year when Mexico lifted the Aga Khan trophy for the very first time, while Ireland finished in a share of second place and Rodrigo Pessoa is hoping to finish one place higher this year in front of the home fans:

"The team are really looking forward to the Aga Khan in Dublin. It is always a very important date on the calendar. Last year we came a close second and this year we will be trying to go one better," he said.

Ireland arrive home to Dublin on the back of an impressive runner-up finish last Friday in the penultimate round of the Longines FEI Nations Cup Series at Hickstead in the UK. That result moved Ireland up to fifth place on the Nations Cup league table.

Following the Aga Khan in Dublin, the top seven teams on the league table will qualify for October’s FEI Nations Cup World Final in Barcelona, where one final team qualifying place will be on offer for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Stena Line Dublin Horse Show runs from August 7th to 11th with the Longines FEI Nations Cup for the Aga Khan trophy taking place on Friday, August 9th.

The Irish Show Jumping team is sponsored by Devenish and The Underwriting Exchange

Equiline – Official athlete clothing supplier of Team Ireland Equestrian

Source: Horse Sport Ireland press release