HORSE Sport Ireland Eventing High Performance Director, Sally Corscadden has named the six athletes who will travel to the 2021 European Eventing Championships in Avenches, Switzerland at the end of this month (September 23rd – 26th). The six athletes and their horses are as follows:

  • Clare Abbott and Jewelent (ISH)
  • Cathal Daniels and LEB Lias Jewel (ISH)
  • Joseph Murphy with Cesar V and Calmaro
  • Padraig McCarthy with Fallulah and Leonidas II
  • Steven Smith and Galwaybay Echo (ISH)
  • Fred Scala and Everon Vivendi (ISH)
  • Sam Watson has been named as the non-travelling reserve with Ballybolger Talisman (ISH)
  • From the six travelling combinations, four will be selected to represent Ireland as a team and the two remaining athletes will compete as individuals. Commenting on the athletes selected to travel, Sally said: “There is a great mix of combinations here to choose the team from. It’s wonderful to have Clare Abbott back at this level, she hasn’t been on an Irish championship team since Rio. She has been producing Jewelent (ISH) up the levels herself – they now have solid form at four-star level, and I look forward to seeing what they can do.

    “Fred Scala has been on Irish Nations Cup teams and both he and Everon Vivendi performed very well recently at Bicton in the four-star. This will be Fred’s first opportunity to compete at a senior championship.

    “Steven Smith is our most successful rider on the National circuit, he took the ride on Galwaybay Echo (ISH) in 2019 and has delivered good performances at Ballindenisk and Kilguilkey. He deserves his chance to represent Ireland at a Championship and I am sure will be a great asset to our team.

    “Padraig McCarthy and Joseph Murphy are both in great form and have the choice of two horses each. Fallulah went very well for Padraig in Millstreet last weekend, just picking up a small injury so she didn’t take part in the show jumping. Leonidas is a hugely experienced horse and, on his day, could produce a big performance – it’s always good to have Padraig on a team he’s a top-class rider.

    “Joseph had a great weekend at Millstreet with Cesar V and Calmaro both finishing inside the top six in the four-star short and four-star long respectively. Calmaro won the four-star short on his last outing.

    “They are all very strong cross-country horses which will be important. This year is very much about developing some new combinations, it’s important to encourage new riders and owners into the sport.”

    Aachen invite

    Ireland has also been invited to field an eventing team at the 2021 Aachen Festival from September 14th to 19th. Five Irish combinations will travel with four selected as part of the team and one competing as an individual. Sally’s five travelling combinations are:

  • Cathal Daniels and Rioghan Rua (ISH)
  • Elizabeth Power and Azure (ISH)
  • Sam Watson and Ballybolger Talisman (ISH)
  • Joseph Murphy with Cesar V and Calmaro
  • Alex Donohoe with Kilcandra Bonnie Reward (ISH)
  • Lucy Latta with DHI Broadway has been named as the non-travelling reserve
  • Speaking ahead of the event, Sally said: “It’s a fantastic competition, very much a championship atmosphere so it offers combinations excellent experience at top-level competition, we are going to take this opportunity and make the most of it.

    “Cathal and Rioghan Rua need no introduction, both Sam and Esib [Elizabeth Power] are very experienced but are on up-and-coming horses. Alex came up through the Horse Sport Ireland Youth Programmes and it is great to see her with two horses now competing at four-star level. While we are not expecting to win, we are expecting to be competitive.”