Youth jumping teams chosen for upcoming FEI European Championships
The Irish Junior and Children on Horses show jumping squads have been named for the upcoming FEI Jumping European Championships in Riesenbeck on July 7th-13th.
Horse Sport Ireland’s High Performance Youth Jumping Selection Panel has chosen its squads of five athlete/horse combinations for the upcoming championships as Irish teams bid to extend their incredible run of medal-winning form of recent years.
Following some excellent results in the spring Nations Cup campaign, HSI Youth Show Jumping Lead Consultant Denis Flannelly and the selection panel, which includes senior international showjumper Denis Lynch, and Chair Sally Anne Tobin, completed the task of choosing their five-strong squads in the Children and Junior category.
Flannelly said: “It was an incredibly tough process to narrow it down to five combinations in each category, such is the strength and depth we had to choose from.
“We could only select five for each squad and of course that meant disappointing athletes who have performed brilliantly for us in Nations Cups, where we reached the podium in Sentower and Zuiwolde, as well as winning in Compiegne and most recently in Hagen.
“On top of that, our Children on Horses team also won bronze in Hagen after a three-way jump-off, so that capped off a wonderful week and a wonderful series of shows.
“I am immensely proud of all our athletes, not just those selected, because they have contributed immensely to the programme so far this year and have led us to where we are at this point. They all have such bright futures in the sport and I have no doubt that they will be selected to represent their country in the very near future.
“This is my first year in the role and so far things have been going very well, but the obvious main target was the European Championships and we are now fully focused on furthering the success of the programme.
“That being said, while Europeans were the number one objective, we will also have the final of Youth Nations Cup Series to look forward to later in the year so there is plenty more to look forward to.
“I must thank the selection panel, Denis and Sally Anne, for their input into selecting these squads and Liz Brennan, our Youth Athlete Liaison, for all her hard work so far – we are very much looking forward to the championships and performing to the best of our ability.
“As I have said since taking this role, winning medals is one part of my job, but what we continue to do is to try develop these athletes as young men and women as they grow and mature in the sport and in their lives. We want them to be focused on the task at hand but also to enjoy, and learn from, the experience.”
Lynch was brought in by Horse Sport Ireland as part of the selection panel to offer the youth programme technical depth and expertise in performance standards, preparation, and championship mindset, and he heaped praise on all the considered athletes.
“I’m very pleased with the selections we have made and how thorough the selection process was. No stone was left unturned as we selected the teams and I believe we have an excellent chance of success at the championships.
“Regardless, the fact that selecting just five combinations in each category was so difficult shows that the Horse Sport Ireland Youth High Performance programme is in rude health currently and the future looks very bright for Irish show jumping.”
The Horse Sport Ireland Children on Horses team for the FEI Jumping European Championships, in alphabetical order, is as follows:
- Honor Bills Everett with Godiva Quality
- Ryan Horgan with Ajaccienne
- Lucia Keane with Elia
- Ella Rush with Beach Buggy (ISH)
- Elsie Tunney with Flexible Flight (ISH)
The Horse Sport Ireland Junior team for the FEI Jumping European Championships, in alphabetical order, is as follows:
- Jack Kent with Castlefield Kingston
- Tabitha Kyle with BP Goodfellas (ISH)
- Emily Moloney with Temple Alice (ISH)
- Paddy Reape with Mr Rocky Blue (ISH)
- Alice Wachman with Killarney
BREEDING:
Beach Buggy (ISH) – 2012 mare by Beach Ball (ISH) out of Morning Vivendi (ISH) by Ars Vevendi. Breeder: Gabriel Jackman Owner: Francis and Noeleen Kerins
Flexible Flight (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Flex A Bill (ISH) (TIH) out of Kilmurray Dazzler (ISH) by Errigal Flight (ISH)(TIH). Breeder: Bertie Williams Owner: Gabriel Tunney
BP Goodfellas (ISH) – 2017 gelding by Stakkato Gold out of Goodwins Loyalty (ISH) by OBOS Quality 004. Breeder: Kevin Babington and GBBS Int. Ltd, Owner: GBBS Int. Ltd
Temple Alice (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Foxglen Cruise Control out of Innishannon Shamrock (ISH) (TIH) by Rantis Diamond (ISH). Breeder: Susan McDonald Owner: Eddie Moloney and TSI Equestrian
Mr Rocky Blue (ISH) – 2016 gelding by Chacoon Blue out of Ardeche Z by Artos Z. Breeder: George McCullogh.Owner Jonathan Reape
The Irish High Performance Show Jumping Programme is exclusively funded by Sport Ireland
Bucas – official supplier to Horse Sport Ireland’s High Performance programme
The Horse Sport Ireland Youth High Performance programmes are kindly sponsored by Equieire, TRM Nutrition, Berney Bros and Dubarry
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