Ireland Announces Team for 2016 Rio Olympics

Clare Abbott and Euro Prince at the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Photo by Jenni Autry. Clare Abbott and Euro Prince at the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Photo by Jenni Autry.

We have the first team announcement ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro! Ireland announced today that the following four riders will make up the Irish team:

• Clare Abbott with Euro Prince, a 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Lougheries Quiet Man out of Miss Tullydraw, bred and owned by Dr. Cormac McKay.

Jonty Evans with Cooley Rorke’s Drift, a 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Courage II out of Doon-A-Ree-Lass, bred by William McCarrison and owned by Fiona Elliot and Jonty Evans.

Mark Kyle with Jemilla, a 2006 British-bred mare by Mill Law out of Jessica XIX,  owned by Shelagh & Richard Morley.

Padraig McCarthy with either Simon Porloe, a 2000 Polish gelding by Sofix out of Babilonia by Czubaryk, owned by Christopher & Sarita Perkins or Bernadette Utopia, a 2006 Dutch mare by Colandro out of Ursela Utopia, owned by the late Caroline Creighton, Pearl Chaffe, the late Hendrik Wiegersma, Padraig & Lucy McCarthy.

The traveling reserve is Camilla Speirs with Portersize Just A Jiff, a 2000 Connemara/Irish gelding by Crosskeys Rebel out of Mizen Talent, bred by Philip GL White and owned by Bridget & Camilla Speirs.

Horse Sport Ireland’s Eventing Team Manager Nick Turner said: “This has been a very difficult decision to make as there have been an impressive number of combinations who have produced some fantastic results to date. We will be fielding a very competitive squad in Rio.

“I would like to thank all of the owners that made their horses available for selection. We will be working hard over the next 57 days in the lead up to the Summer Olympic Games in Rio to contend for a podium finish.”

[Horse Sport Ireland announce Eventing Team for Rio Olympics]