Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
We have two teams to add to our list following the unveiling of the longlists for countries heading to next month’s FEI Eventing World Championships for Seniors at Aachen. Both the Irish and the French have now announced their final squads who will be making the trip to Germany.
Ireland Taps Experienced Roster
Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Horse Sport Ireland High Performance Eventing Manager Sam Griffiths has announced the five combinations selected to represent Ireland at the FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, next month.
The selected team brings extensive championship experience and top-quality results from some of global eventing’s biggest events. Between them, the athletes have represented Ireland at multiple Olympic Games, World and European Championships, underlining the strength in depth of Irish eventing heading into the championships.
Selections were made following the recommendation of the High Performance Eventing Selection Panel, comprising High Performance Manager Sam Griffiths, selectors Declan Cullen and Gillian Kyle, and Independent Chair Brian Mangan.
The Irish Senior Eventing team competing in Aachen (listed in alphabetical order) is:
- Ian Cassells with Millridge Atlantis, owned by Ber, Fiona and Gerry Leahy
- Aoife Clark with Full Monty De Lacense, owned by the Ace of Spades Syndicate
- Georgie Goss with Kojak, owned by Molly Fisher, Lucy Fleming and Samantha Wilson
- Padraig McCarthy with MGH Zabaione, owned by Peter Cattell and Diane Brunsden
- Austin O’Connor with Colorado Blue, owned by The Salty Syndicate
The following reserve combinations have also been selected (listed in alphabetical order):
- Susie Berry with John The Bull, owned by Nick & Helen Caton
- Sarah Ennis with Dourough Ferro Class Act, owned by James and Niki Potterton
- Padraig McCarthy with Pomp N Circumstance, owned by Rachel and Sarah Gough
- Joseph Murphy with Calmaro, owned by Richard and Tanja Ames, Annette O’Callaghan and Alan Bell
Announcing the team, Sam Griffiths said: “We’re incredibly excited to announce the team for Aachen. The selection panel had some incredibly tough decisions to make, which really reflects positively on the growing strength of Irish eventing.
“There was lots of combinations that could have made the team but just missed it but having said that, the combinations we have are very strong. I firmly believe that if they can maintain their current form and compete to the level of their current form, we’ll be very competitive.
France also tosses their name in the hat as the defending team silver medalists at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. One pair on this year’s World Championships squad, Nicolas Touzaint and Diabolo Menthe, was on that Olympic team.
Nicolas Touzaint and Diabolo Menthe (FRA). Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The French squad is as follows:
- Alexis Goury & Je’Vall, owned by Michel Mitius, Fanny Goury, Alexis Goury
- Gaspard Maksud & Zaragoza, owned by Martin Thurlow, Jane Young
- Benjamin Massié & Figaro Fonroy, owned by Aurélie Loisin
- Astier Nicolas & Alertamalib’Or, owned by Aliette Forien, Pascal Ravery, Astier Nicolas, Paul Nicolas
- Nicolas Touzaint & Diabolo Menthe, owned by Mézard Sports, Françoise Niclaus
More news to come for this year’s FEI Eventing World Championships, so keep it locked right here on EN for the latest. EN’s coverage of these World Championships is supported by Kentucky Performance Products. To view all of our coverage to date, click here.
