FIVE lucky readers of The Irish Field had the chance to join Ireland’s Aga Khan squad and chef d’equipe Rodrigo Pessoa for breakfast at the five-star Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge on Thursday morning ahead of yesterday’s Nations Cup.

The winners – Joseph Curran, Sheelagh Canty, Bernie Leadon Bolger, Mary Madden, Krystian Slomianny – all accompanied by a guest joined the squad of Cameron Hanley, Paul O’Shea, Mark MCAuley, Shane Sweetnam and Billy Twomey, as well as high performance committee members Gerry Mullins and Michael Blake.

Now in its third year, ‘Breakfast with the Stars’ welcomed the senior team’s main sponsors who were represented by Geoffrey Frawley and Jane Hurley from Devenish and Stephen O’Connor from The Underwriting Exchange.

Co Limerick’s Paul O’Shea was due to make his Aga Khan debut yesterday (Friday) and said being part of the team has been his goal for 23 years. Speaking about his preparation for the big competition, O’Shea said: “What works for me is to be completely detached, treat it like another competition, it is no different to what I am doing all the time. I focus on the process, do my job, control the controllables and that is it.”

Louth’s Mark McAuley, who made his debut in 2017, agreed with O’Shea, saying: “The most important thing it to detach yourself a bit from everything that’s going on. It’s very easy to get caught up, there’s a lot of people to talk to but you need to stick to yourself and stick to the plan.”

McAuley added: “I’m feeling good. I know a bit more what to except. It’s a big week with a lot of pressure and a lot of expectation.”

Claremorris man Cameron Hanley is making his first appearance on the Aga Khan since undergoing a gruelling 17 operations on his knee in 2011 and is overjoyed to be back on the team, while Shane Sweetnam got a late call on Sunday but reported he was more than ready for the challenge.

Team manager Rodrigo Pessoa said the passion he has experienced from the Irish people surrounding the Aga Khan is another level. “I found another level of patriotism when it came to jumping on the team and wearing the green jacket. I found something you can’t imagine unless you are inside and living it with them.”

He thanked the people working around him. “I am extremely lucky to have such an unbelievable support team in Gerry (Mullins), Michael (Blake) and Taylor (Vard) and everyone in HSI who try to make my life easier. It’s a group that works in very good harmony.”

Following an interview in last week’s The Irish Field, Pessoa added that he will not leave Ireland to coach another country, and after the WEG he hopes a good deal can be made. “One thing is for sure I won’t leave to go to another country and coach another country. I’ll leave it there, or I’ll be riding more, or I’ll be with Ireland but I won’t go to another country despite the interest that has been in the last couple of weeks and months.” That comment received a large round of applause. Gerry Mullins extended his thanks to the main sponsors, at which point Devenish’s Geoffrey Frawley said: “There is a very special feel about this squad. It’s not a team, it’s a squad and we are very happy to be involved.”

Stephen O’Connor added: “We are delighted to be involved with the Irish team. Funding is the biggest problem in the sport and we are happy to help.”

To finish on a good note, development chef d’equipe Michael Blake said that in the last 12 Nations Cups, Ireland have been on the podium 10 times with 30 different horses – including the latest triple header in Falsterbo, Aachen and Hickstead, where 12 different riders and horses lined out.