AS the countdown continues to next year’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) and the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, Irish senior eventing team manager Sally Corscadden has named two groups of short listed riders – the 2018 WEG Squad and the 2020 Horizon Squad.

The 2018 WEG Squad is to support combinations that are committed to and are capable of delivering a competitive performance at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA, and contribute to qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The 2020 Horizon Squad is to support combinations that are committed to and are capable of future championship performances, and who are specifically planning towards the Olympics in Tokyo. Combinations in the 2020 Horizon squad can move into the 2018 WEG Squad, if they show they are capable of delivering a competitive performance at WEG in the coming spring season.

Corscadden said: “It is pleasing to be able to have this number of riders available for Team Ireland and we have already had our first riders workshop geared towards the many aspects of what we need to do off the horse, that will help us to be able to perform to the best of our ability on the horse.

“We are also in the very fortunate position of having the generous support of the owners of these talented horses and will endeavour to create a high performance structure that values harmony among all stakeholders and produces the best prepared squad to achieve podium success for Ireland.”

Equiline generously sponsors the team clothing.

The 2018 WEG Squad is as follows:

Clare Abbott

Tim Bourke

Aoife Clark

Cathal Daniels

Sarah Ennis

Jonty Evans

Ciaran Glynn

Aidan Keogh

Padraig McCarthy

Joseph Murphy

James O’Haire

Elizabeth Power

Michael Ryan

Trish Ryan

Sam Watson

2020 Horizon Squad is as follows:

Declan Cullen

Tony Kennedy

Michelle Kenny

Mark Kyle

Brian Morrison

Austin O’Connor

Sophie Richards

Camilla Speirs