THE final leg of the AIEC International Student Riding Nations Cup series for 2022, hosted in the Hippisch Centrum Exloo in The Netherlands, took place recently. Organised by the Dutch Student Rider Association, 12 teams from across Europe and the USA battled it out to secure a spot in the end of year World Finals competition, scheduled to take place in Bilzen, Belgium in December.

The all-female Irish squad of Alanna Doherty (UCD), Alannah Kelly (UCD), Jessica McConnell (QUB), Michelle O’Driscoll (UCC), and India Rogers (TCD) ensured that Ireland will take one of the coveted six places in the Gold League Final by virtue of their overall fifth-place rank in the team dressage competition.

Impressive performances from Michelle O’Driscoll and Alannah Kelly in the individual dressage section saw them finish in second and sixth place respectively, while Alanna Doherty finished just outside the top 10 in the individual show jumping section.

The team were led on-site by chef d’equipe Jeremy Eviston (UCD) and managed behind the scenes by Ana Desmond (UUJ). The Irish squad were proud, once again, to be sporting team polo shirts designed by Sweden’s Stierna Equestrian Sportswear, and to have received prizes from overall event sponsor, Denmark’s Catago Equestrian.