Ireland’s Eventing High Performance Team Manager Nick Turner announced the Irish Eventing team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (France) on June 18.

The team is as follows:

  • Claire Abbott will compete with Cormac Mackay’s Euro Prince, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Lougheries Quiet Man—Miss Tullydraw).
  • Aoife Clark will ride PJ Hegarty’s Fenyas Elegance, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Ricardo Z—Fenya, Good Thyne) or direct reserve mount Vaguely North, a 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Distinctly North—Silver Plate) owned by Henrietta Duchess of Bedford and Jacqueline Norris.
  • Sarah Ennis will ride Stellor Rebound, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding sired by VDL Ricochet and owned by Tom McGuinness, Nicky Potterton and the late Orla Ennis.
  • Joseph Murphy will ride Noel Good, Jill Andrews, A.O’Callaghan and Michelle Nelson’s 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Electric Cruise (Cruising—Kilnamac Sally, Clover Hill).
  • Austin O'Connor will ride Kate Jarvey’s Ringwood Mississippi, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Mark Twain—Clogh Pride, Townrath Pride).
  • Sam Watson will compete with Horseware Bushman, a 15 year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Puissance—Clear Conscience, Horos), owned by Tom MacGuinness and John and Julia Watson.

The reserve riders on the Irish World Games Team include:

  • Joseph Murphy riding Sportsfield Othello, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Ricardo Z—Moy View Lady, Ring of Forde) owned by Jill Murphy, Alison Schmutz and Andrew Tinkler.
  • Jim Newsam riding his own Magennis, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Limmerick – Inishkea, Zero Watt).
  • Michael Ryan riding 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Ballylynch Adventure (Don Juan de la Bouverie—Stanman Girl, Standaan) owned by Carol and Tom Henry and Sheila Foley.
  • Camilla Spiers riding Bridget Speirs’ and her own Portersize Just A Jiff, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Crosskeys Rebel—Mizen Talent, Mizen Melody).

“I am delighted that we have such a strong squad to select from,” said Turner. “The six riders have a wealth of experience riding horses that have good four-star experience or very impressive wins recently at three-star level. We look forward to the World Equestrian Games with the main objective of securing Olympic qualification, yet a medal is always in our sights.”

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