Major Weekend for Equestrian Sport as Irish Compete at Eleven Venues

Irish riders and horses will compete at a total of eleven international venues this weekend, including the Nations' Cup at Hickstead, England, the Global Champions Tour in Chantilly, France, the five-star show in San Patrignano, Italy and the European Pony Championships in Fontainebleau, France.

Team Ireland Equestrian's manager Robert Splaine will announce his team of four for Friday's Hickstead Nations' Cup class on Thursday from his nominated squad of Andrew Bourns, Shane Breen, Richie Moloney, Darragh Kerins and Clem McMahon. Hickstead is the penultimate leg of the 2012 Superleague series, with the final slotted in for Dublin on August 17, after Olympic show jumping has concluded in London.

Denis Lynch, Mark McAuley, Jessica Kürten and Billy Twomey will pursue ranking points and substantial prize money at Chantilly in the eighth of the Global Champions Tour 2012 season fixtures, while Conor Swail will fly the Irish flag at the five-star show jumping weekend at San Patrignano in Italy.

In Fontainebleau, meanwhile, Matt Garrigan,Tom Foley, Paraic Kenny, Molly O'Shea and Darragh Ryan are Team manager Tom Slattery's squad for the European Pony Show Jumping Championships, while Eventing Manager Sue Shortt has selected Gavin Smiddy, Cathal Daniels, Lucy Latta, Ana O'Brien, Susie Berry and Kirsty Connell as her possible contenders for European championship medals.

Driving sees Barry Capstick and Folke Rohrssen represent Ireland at Beekbergen in the Netherlands, while June Burgess will be Ireland's sole representative at Eventing in Burgie, Scotland.

Irish show jumpers will also compete at Ascona in Switzerland, Zuidwolde in the Netherlands, Vimeiro in Portugal, Moorsele in Belgium, and Le Mans, France.