ELEVEN Irish show jumpers will line out in the Global Champions League (GCL) for the 2019 season. This season sees 16 teams, three less than in 2018, with six riders on each line out for the lucrative league.

Among the Irish riders to change teams this season is Cian O’Connor, who is joining Bertram Allen on Valkenswaard United, and Denis Lynch, who will be part of Georgina Bloomberg’s New York Empire team, having ridden by Miami Celtics last season.

Mark McAuley is the only other mover; he joins Michael G Duffy on the Madrid in Motion team, winners of the inaugural GCL Super Cup at the GC Prague Playoffs last December.

Michael Duffy, Shane Breen and Cameron Hanley will remain as part of the Miami Celtics team, while Darragh Kenny (Paris Panthers), Shane Sweetnam (Shanghai Swans) and Daniel Coyle (Cannes Stars) all return.

The first leg of the GCL kicks off at the Al Shaqab in Doha, Qatar, next weekend.