HORSE Sport Ireland has announced the appointment of three team managers for Ireland’s Youth Eventing High Performance Programme up to October 31st 2024.

Sue Shortt has been reappointed as U21 (Young Rider) and U25 team manager, Dag Albert has been reappointed as U18 (Junior) team manager while Jane Kinsella has been appointed as pony (U16) team manager.

CEO of HSI, Denis Duggan, who took up his new role this week, said: “I am delighted to see the calibre of team managers that have come forward for the Eventing High Performance Youth Programmes and I am looking forward to working with all of them during 2022 and beyond and hopefully securing more podium places at Championship level.”

Kildare Olympian Sue Shortt said: “I am delighted to renew my contract with Horse Sport Ireland for a further three years. We have a large squad of riders again this year, including five combinations that were part of the silver medal winning team in 2021. I am really looking forward to working with all the riders and hopefully we can go one better in 2022!”

Swedish-born rider and BE coach Dag Albert, one of his country’s most experienced eventing riders, commented: “I am delighted to have been re-appointed as Junior Eventing team manager. We have a very talented group of riders in the Junior High Performance squad including four riders who competed at last year’s European Championships so they bring a lot of experience with them. We also have some exciting riders moving up from ponies. The squad has already started training and we are looking forward to the season ahead.”

Jane Kinsella holds a PhD in Parasitology and a QQI level 6 in Training, Delivery and Evaluation. She is a HSI Level 2 coach and is currently completing the Coach Developer course with Sport Ireland. Jane has represented Ireland in Eventing at European Championship level and has over 20 years High Performance coaching experience.

Kinsella said: “I would like to thank Horse Sport Ireland for this opportunity and I am looking forward to working with the incredibly talented riders and their associated support networks. The Irish Pony squads have been hugely successful over the last number of years and I aim, not only to maintain and improve upon the medal successes at European Championship level, but also to develop strength and depth in the Pony squad, producing well-educated, competitive riders of the future.“