Ireland have been drawn fifth to jump of eight teams taking part and will line out as follows:
Shane Sweetnam with Chaqui Z – Owned by Spy Coast Farm LLC & Shane Sweetnam
Cian O’Connor with Callisto – Owned by Ian O’ Grady, Philippe de Balander & Ronnoco Jump Ltd
Mark McAuley with Miebello – Owned by Eva Lundin
Denis Lynch with All Star 5 – Owned by Thomas Straumann & Denis Lynch
Falsterbo will be Ireland’s fourth of six points-scoring rounds as they continue their quest to qualify for the Nations Cup world final in Barcelona (ESP). Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland and the home team from Sweden will be competing for points in Falsterbo, while Norway and USA will also field teams but will not be eligible for points.
Ireland last won the Swedish Nations Cup in 2009 with a team that included Cameron Hanley (SIEC Livello), Darragh Kerins (Night Train), Capt David O’Brien (Kiltoom) and Denis Lynch (Lantinus). Falsterbo is a town located at the south-western tip of Sweden and first held a horse show in 1920.
Team manager Rodrigo Pessoa said:
“We are looking for our first Division 1 Nations Cup win of the season and if it comes tomorrow it will be very pleasant. The horses all jumped well today and we are ready to give it our best shot.”
Following Falsterbo, there will be just two rounds of the 2017 FEI Nations Cup series remaining – at Hickstead in the UK on July 28th, and Ireland’s home Nations Cup at the RDS in Dublin on August 11th where teams will compete for the Aga Khan trophy.