Irish Olympic Games Show Jumping team nominated

Horse Sport Ireland is delighted to nominate the athlete/horse combinations for consideration by the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) to represent Team Ireland in Show Jumping at the Paris Olympic Games.

Show Jumping High Performance Director Michael Blake has chosen to nominate Daniel Coyle with Legacy, Cian O’Connor with Maurice and Shane Sweetnam with the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz for the Games, with the competition taking place in late July.

The P Alternate Athlete/Horse combination will be Bertram Allen with the Irish Sport Horse Pacino Amiro, and reserve combinations also nominated are listed below.

Michael Blake said: “It is the greatest honour for an athlete to be chosen to represent their country at an Olympic Games and I’m delighted to have chosen these athletes for consideration for Paris.

“We are enjoying an excellent period of Irish jumping at the moment and it is testament to the riders and all of their teams who look after the horses at home, and when they compete, that they have all reached such a high level.

“The athletes and horses I have chosen have been performing brilliantly, week-in-week-out, on the international stage and we’ll give it everything we have to achieve what we’re setting out to do.

“I would like to thank the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Sport Ireland, Horse Sport Ireland and everyone involved in show jumping in Ireland for their support and I hope we’ll do everyone proud.”

The combinations nominated, in alphabetical order, for consideration for selection by the OFI is:

Daniel Coyle (Co. Derry) with Legacy, owned by Ariel Grange.

Cian O’Connor (Co. Meath) with Maurice, owned by Keira Stoute, Sarah Stoute and Cian O’Connor.

Shane Sweetnam (Co. Cork) with James Kann Cruz (ISH), owned by Gizmo Partners LLC.

The following combination has been selected as P Alternate:

Bertram Allen (Co. Wexford) with Pacino Amiro (ISH), owned by Ballywalter Stables.

The following combinations have been selected as non-travelling reserves and are listed in alphabetical order, who will travel to the designated Horse Sport Ireland holding camp, should one be required:

Denis Lynch (Co. Tipperary) with Brooklyn Heights, owned by Molly Ohrstrom

Mark McAuley (Co. Louth) with GRS Lady Amaro (ISH), owned by SNC McAuley Equestrian.

The following combinations have been selected as team alternates and are listed in alphabetical order:

Darragh Kenny (Co. Offaly) with VDL Cartello, owned by Heathman Farm LLC.

Richard Howley (Co. Sligo) with Equine America Consulent de Prelet Z, owned by HK Horses and Sarah Borthwick.

Eoin McMahon (Co. Clare) with Mila, owned by Ludger Beerbaum Stables GmBH and Eoin McMahon.

Cian O’Connor (Co. Kildare) with Eve D’Ouilly, owned by Nicole Walker and Cian O’Connor.

Cian O’Connor (Co. Kildare) with Fermoy, owned by Keira Stoute, Sarah Stoute and Cian O’Connor.

Shane Sweetnam (Co. Cork) with RR Combella, owned by Voquest LLC.

BREEDING:

JAMES KANN CRUZ (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Kannan (KWPN) out of CSF Telly Cruz (ISH) by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Patrick Connolly. Owner: Gizmo Partners LLC. Rider: Shane Sweetnam (IRL).

PACINO AMIRO (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Pacino (BWP) out of Carnone Dancing Queen (ISH) by NC Amiro (AES). Breeder: Simon Scott, Co. Donegal. Owner: Ballywalter Stables. Rider: Bertram Allen (IRL).

GRS LADY AMARO (ISH) – 2013 mare by Amaretto Darco (BWP) out of Legal Lady (TB) by Over The River (TB). Breeder: Denis Hickey, Co. Wexford. Owner: S.N.C McAuley. Rider: Mark McAuley (IRL).