Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge Teams Announced

Jessica Phoenix and A Little Romance. Photo by Jenni Autry. Jessica Phoenix and A Little Romance. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The pressure is on for Team USA in the second edition of the Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge at Rolex Kentucky this year. With a total of $20,000 in prize money on the line, four teams representing their respective nations will duke it out in true team-style to achieve the lowest cumulative score at the end of the day on Sunday.

At Wednesday’s welcome party, held at Spindletop Hall, the team members were selected at random — an element organizers felt added a new twist on a traditional team setting. The idea was to have a more mixed bag of competitors, potentially putting a relatively green horse or rider on a team with a seasoned veteran.

Here’s a breakdown of the teams as they were announced yesterday:

Team USA

Holly Payne on Never Outfoxed
Alexandra Knowles on Sound Prospect
Colleen Rutledge on Shiraz
Jennie Brannigan on Cambalda

Team Canada

Jessica Phoenix on Pavarotti
Rachel McDonough on Irish Rhythm
Cody Sturgess on Imperial Melody
Jessica Phoenix on A Little Romance

Team Great Britain

Nicola Wilson on Annie Clover
James Alliston on Tivoli
William Fox-Pitt on Bay My Hero
Zara Phillips on High Kingdom

Team Ireland/Germany/New Zealand/Australia

Ireland: Austin O’Connor on Balham Houdini
Germany: Michael Jung on La Biosthetique- Sam FBW
New Zealand: Tim Price- Wesko
Australia: Bill Levett on Improvise

We are also running a Rolex Fantasy League in conjunction with this year’s Dubarry of Ireland Team Challenge, so stay tuned for the first score update from both challenges later on today after dressage concludes.

The winner of our first-ever Rolex Fantasy League will win a “Toe to Head” outfit of their choice from our very generous sponsor, Dubarry.

Best of luck to all Nations Team Challenge competitors! We’ll be bringing you much more from this competition, so keep checking back!