HORSE SPORT IRELAND SHOW JUMPING: PONY SQUAD AND TEAM FOR AACHEN NAMED

Source: News Release/Colin McClelland

IRELAND'S EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP PONY SQUAD CONFIRMED

HORSE Sport Ireland has confirmed the Pony Show Jumping squad for the 2012 European Championships in Fontainebleau, France from the 17th – 22nd July

The Pony Show Jumping squad, in alphabetical order, is:

Tom Foley – Crown Jewel

Matt Garrigan – Future Interest

Paraic Kenny – Grey Ross

Molly O’Shea – More Clover

Darragh Ryan - Quantum Light

The two non travelling reserves are:

Susan Fitzpatrick – Petrus Spartacus

Tim MacDonagh – Imagine If One

Team Ireland's Equestrian Pony Show Jumping High Performance Coach Tom Slattery said: “We have a less experienced team travelling this year. We have had good results so far, winning the Nations Cup in Fontainebleau, second in the Nations Cup in Wierden and winning the Grands Prix in both Wierden and Hagen, so I am confident with the squad travelling.

"These riders were selected based on form, which included our two international trials plus the performances at international shows. All we need is a little bit of luck on our side at the championships."

SPLAINE ANNOUNCES SQUAD FOR AACHEN NATIONS' CUP

TEAM Ireland's show jumping manager Robert Splaine has announced his squad for the fifth in the eight-leg FEI Nations' Cup Superleague, which takes place at Aachen in Germany on Thursday afternoon, July 5.

Aachen, traditionally considered to be one of the toughest competitions in the annual series, sees five of Ireland's top riders selected.

The squad, in alphabetical order, is:
Shane Breen
Dermott Lennon
Denis Lynch
Cian O'Connor
Billy Twomey

Breen will travel with Cos I Can (ISH), Ominerale Courcelle and Zarnita, while Lennon takes Ace High Mike (ISH), Loughview Lou-Lou (ISH) and Vampire.

Denis Lynch will have Abbervail Van Het Dingeshof, Lantinus 3, Night Train and Upsilon D'Ocquier, while Cian O’Connor brings Blue Loyd 12, Farfelu De Muze and KEC Alligator Alley (ISH). Twomey takes Je T'Aime Flamenco, Romanov 23 and Wings Sublieme.

Interestingly, this will now be the same squad of riders from which the team who won the Aachen Nations’ Cup in 2010 was drawn.

Splaine will announce his 2012 team of four before Thursday.

The FEI Nations' Cup series will then continue at Falsterbo (SWE) 12-15 July; Hickstead (GBR) 19-22 July and will see its final round at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show 15-19 August.