The five-strong squad, from which Splaine will select his team of four prior to the Nations’ Cup is, in alphabetical order:

Bertram Allen/Molly Malone V
Shane Breen/Golden Hawk
Cameron Hanley/Antello Z
Darragh Kenny/Imothep
Denis Lynch/Abbervail van het Dingeshof

Speaking today, Robert Splaine commented: “My choice of Hickstead as a points-scoring venue for the Furusiyya league just before Dublin is opportune, but not just for that reason.

“With Hickstead being held the week directly before Dublin it gives me the opportunity to view all of our World Equestrian Games (WEG) contenders in action at five star level within the space of two weeks.

“Therefore once Dublin is over, and with current and previous form at hand, this will put me in the best possible position to make my WEG selections, as they have to be made made soon after Dublin.”

On Monday, Splaine announced the Irish squad from which he will select the team to compete in the Aga Khan Trophy competition on August 8 in Dublin.

They are:

Bertram Allen/Molly Malone V
Dermott Lennon/Loughview Lou Lou (ISH)
Denis Lynch/All Star 5
Cian O’Connor/Quidam’s Cherie
Billy Twomey/Diaghilev

The show jumping element of the World Equestrian Games, which will be an Olympic qualifying event, takes place in Normandy, France in the first week of September.

Winning nations cup team Ireland for last years’ Agha Khan

IRELAND’S show jumping manager Robert Splaine announced his five-man squad for the Aga Khan Trophy competition at next month’s Discover Ireland Horse Show.

From the squad of five Splaine will pick four combinations as his team in the days before the Nations’ Cup.

His squad selection is:
Cameron Hanley/Antello Z
Cian O’Connor/Blue Loyd or Cooper
Conor Swail/Lansdowne
Dermott Lennon/Loughview Lou Lou (ISH)
Shane Breen/Balloon

Splaine commented “Cameron Hanley is a top rider at championship level who has just returned from a two year injury lay-off with great success. He was part of the Irish team that won the Nations’ Cup at Calgary in Canada recently and he also won the Grand Prix at Wiesbaden in Germany.

“Cian O’Connor and Blue Loyd need no introduction, as they won Ireland’s Olympic bronze medal at London last year. Cian is coming to Dublin double-handed, for he is also bringing a fantastic new horse, Cooper, who did very well at the recent five star show in Aachen, Germany.

“Conor Swail and Lansdowne were also part of the winning Nations’ Cup five weeks ago in Canada and just last Sunday they won the prestigious Pan American Cup Grand Prix at the same venue.

“Dermott Lennon and the Irish-bred Loughview Lou Lou had two counting scores at the Nations’ Cup in Aachen last month, and the following week they won the Grand Prix at Geesteren in Holland.

“Shane Breen and Balloon have been part of our Superleague Nations’ Cup campaign to date, jumping for Ireland at La Baule, St. Gallen and Aachen, and they delivered rounds that counted in all three competitions. They were also well placed in Aachen’s Grand Prix.”

“All five have jumped on Nations’ Cups before and I believe we are privileged to be able to defend our title from last year’s Aga Khan at the world’s greatest show here in Dublin, and I believe we can win.”

Dublin is the final leg of the 2013 Furusiyya Nations’ Cup and the last one at which Ireland can gain points to make sure of qualification for September’s Final at Barcelona. Ireland currently lies in fourth position on the Division 1 table, and the top six teams, after the Dublin points have been added, qualify for the final.

Note from Horse Sport Ireland