Meet the Irish workforce for the Eu Showjumping Championships 2023

An elite squad of 5 riders has been decided on to constitute Eire at subsequent week’s FEI Eu Showjumping Championships in Milan, Italy (30 August-3 September), hoping to regain the wonderful workforce gold medal gained in 2017. So who has chef d’equipe Michael Blake picked for the Irish workforce on the Eu Showjumping Championships 2023?

Irish workforce on the Eu Showjumping Championships

Denis Lynch and Vistogrand

The senior member of Workforce Eire’s squad is 47-year-old Denis Lynch driving the 10-year-old British-bred Vistogrand. The Fantaland x Mr Visto stallion is now owned by way of Parco Recreation Horses EST, however used to be bred and produced by way of Carron Nicol via his early years. Denis purchased Vistogrand from earlier rider Shane Breen overdue remaining yr.

Denis and Vistogrand were leaping on the peak degree and helped Eire safe a historical victory within the Rome International locations Cup previous this summer time. Germany-based Denis used to be a part of the 2017 gold medal-winning squad on the 2017 Eu Championships.

“Denis is an overly skilled member of Irish squads,” says chef d’equipe Michael Blake.

Michael Duffy and Cinca 3

Becoming a member of Denis at the squad is Galway-born Michael Duffy, who brings Hibernian Recreation Horses’ 14-year-old gray mare Cinca 3. Bred in Germany by way of Peter Wylde, this skilled daughter of Casall Ask x Carthago jumped on the Tokyo Olympics with New Zealand’s Daniel Meech earlier than Michael began driving her 8 months in the past. They’ve since been core avid gamers in Eire’s International locations Cup squads, together with for the Aga Khan in Dublin.

Michael hails from a showjumping circle of relatives and competed at Dublin Horse Display in 12.2hhs, occurring to transform the youngest ever senior nationwide champion in Eire elderly 17 and he gained workforce bronze on the younger rider Eu Championship. He moved to England in 2013 to coach with Shane Breen earlier than putting in place his stables in West Sussex and he made his senior championship debut in 2021. He continuously competes for GCL squad Rome Gladiators and his groom for this yr’s championship is Tristan Gautier.

Michael Duffy even went viral not too long ago due to a image of him and his gelding Jeff Ten Halven clearing the highest of the wings in a warm-up area.

Eoin McMahon and Mila

Uber-talented emerging big name Eoin McMahon, 27, has been in reality catching the attention as strong jockey for the Ludger Beerbaum stables. Since the mythical German rider introduced his retirement previous this yr, Eoin has taken the reins completely on his multi grand prix-winning mare, the 11-year-old Mila (Monte Bellini x Linton). Mila used to be bred by way of the Schockemohle stables and is now owned by way of the Ludger Beerbaum Stables. Eoin made his first look at the championship level on his domestic soil at Riesenbeck, Germany, in 2021, completing an implausible 8th in my opinion. He’s taking a look set to move even higher this time round after being decided on as soon as once more for the Irish workforce on the Eu Showjumping Championships 2023.

“Mila is a bit of particular,” describes Eoin. “It’s important to leap her within the ring to enjoy her high quality. Some horses are tremendous flashy at domestic then no longer so just right at displays, while she doesn’t display so much at domestic however she’s artful, she is aware of when she’s competing after which it’s like driving an absolutely other animal. I’ve by no means had a horse as just right as her – it’s a privilege to be driving her.”

Mila is taken care of by way of British groom Heather Box, who describes the gray mare as an “impartial girl, who loves to do her personal factor”. “For the sort of quirky horse, she’s strangely simple travelling and flying, then at displays, she is aware of it’s her sit back time within the strong, that’s her cuddle time,” finds Heather. “However once she’s out, she is aware of it’s time for industry.”

Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz were picked for the Irish workforce on the Eu Showjumping Championships 2023 in Milan, Italy.

Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz

One of the crucial senior individuals of the Irish pack is 42-year-old Shane Sweetnam, who used to be a part of the gold medal-winning Irish workforce on the 2017 Eu Showjumping Championships and he additionally rode on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. At this yr’s Eu Showjumping Championships in Milan, he rides the 3rd of Eire’s gray horses, the 10-year-old James Kann Cruz. Bred in Eire by way of Patrick Connolly by way of Kannan out of a Cruising mare, the gelding is likely one of the most enjoyable horses at the international showjumping circuit at this time, exhibiting immense scope and carefulness.

US-based Shane has been in moderation generating the Gizmo Companions-owned gelding, who’s taken care of by way of Maria Israelsson and Seamus McKeever, for the previous 18 months. They’ve jumped a string of sensible clears in International locations Cup, together with serving to Workforce Eire elevate the Aga Khan trophy in 2022, and maximum not too long ago completing runner-up within the five-star grand prix of Dinard in addition to leaping transparent in Eire’s defence of the Aga Khan trophy within the Dublin International locations Cup.

Unquestionably some other pair to have for your radar at this yr’s championships.

Trevor Breen and Highland President

Receiving a moderately overdue call-up to the Irish workforce for the Eu Showjumping Championships used to be West Sussex-based Trevor Breen, 44, with the circle of relatives’s good home-bred 11-year-old gelding Highland President (Clinton x Kannan), owned by way of his partner’s mother Heather Black. This pair have various five-star shape, together with two top-five grand prix placings not too long ago and so they have been a part of Eire’s 2nd position workforce within the Rotterdam International locations Cup previous this yr, in addition to playing various luck on domestic soil.

“Archie”, as he’s identified at domestic, is expertly taken care of and fantastically became out by way of groom Katie King. Eire’s chef d’equipe Michael Blake picked Trevor and Highland President as non-travelling reserve for remaining yr’s Global Championships, describing them as “a promising pairing for the longer term, an overly thrilling horse”.

“Numerous blood, sweat and tears have long past into this horse,” Trevor defined of the large bay. “He’s reasonably robust, however he’s getting higher and extra constant always.”

So will Eire be at the podium?

Michael Blake sums up his squad’s possibilities by way of pronouncing: “I’m excited – it’s going to clearly be very difficult. 16 robust groups line up, however we’re very robust ourselves and I’m hoping for a just right appearing.”

Should you’re questioning learn how to watch the Eu Showjumping Championships 2023, they happen in Milan, Italy, from Wednesday 30 August to Sunday 3 September and you’ll be able to practice the entire motion on-line with Horse & Hound, with the overall document and extra unique insights and interviews within the mag, which hits the malls on Thursday 7 September.

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