Horse Sport Ireland appoints new High Performance Jumping Advisory Group ahead of LA 2028
Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new High Performance Jumping Advisory Group, which will support team management and Ireland’s senior athletes in the lead-up to the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028.
The Group will assist the Senior High Performance Programme by providing expert technical guidance, strategic insight, and acting as a sounding board for the HSI High Performance Jumping Director. The Group will officially commence its work in September 2025.
Former professional rugby international and performance expert Bernard Jackman, who served as Acting Head of High Performance Sport across all senior Olympic disciplines in the run-up to the Paris 2024 Games, will chair the Group. He is joined by Nicola Fitzgibbon, Jack Doyle, and Barry O’Connor, who continues his role as athlete representative from the outgoing Group.
Nicola Fitzgibbon brings outstanding expertise to the Group as a 5* international show jumping athlete, respected sport horse producer, and HSI Level 2 accredited coach. Selected at just 23 years old for the prestigious Irish Aga Khan Trophy team at the 2011 FEI Nations Cup of Ireland, she helped secure a second place finish riding Puissance. Nicola is a recipient of the FEI Bronze Badge of Honour and has represented Ireland in Nations Cup competitions across Europe and North America. She has produced and sold horses to elite riders globally, with many progressing to CSI5* and championship level. As a coach, she works with riders from grassroots to Grand Prix, championing a progressive, flatwork-focused training approach for long-term horse and rider development.
Barry O’Connor, an international sport horse agent and HSI Level 3 coach, remains as athlete representative. Operating from his base in Malahide, Dublin, O’Connor oversees the production, training, and international trading of sport horses.
Jack Doyle, also an HSI Level 3 coach and former Olympian (Seoul 1988), has extensive team experience, having served as Chef d’Équipe for the Irish team at the 2022 FEI WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, where Irish Sport Horses secured multiple medals. Like Fitzgibbon, Doyle has competed on the Irish Aga Khan team, notably contributing to the 1987 win aboard his Olympic mount, Hardly.
HSI has also reached out to Showjumping Ireland to nominate a representative to the Group and is currently awaiting confirmation of their nominee.
Blending expertise in high-performance sport, athlete representation, and coaching, the Advisory Group will advise on strategic priorities, performance targets, and operational planning for the senior programme. The Group will play a key role in shaping and supporting Ireland’s ambition for podium success at Nations Cups, European and World Championships, and the Olympic Games.
HSI CEO Denis Duggan said:
“We are delighted with the calibre and composition of the new High Performance Jumping Advisory Group and look forward to continuing Ireland’s strong presence on the global stage.
“Nicola, Jack, and Barry bring a wealth of experience and insight to the programme, and Bernard was a fantastic addition in 2024 as we built towards Paris. His leadership will be a huge asset as we now focus on Los Angeles.
“I would also like to express our sincere thanks to the outgoing members of the Group, Chair Gavin Duffy, Lisa Williams, and Guy Hodgson for their dedication and significant contributions to Irish jumping.”
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