HORSE Sport Ireland has announced the team of horses that will represent of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook at the 2024 edition of the WBFSH Studbooks Jumping Global Champions Trophy.

This second ever Inter-Studbook Team Championship will once again be held at the Longines Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, from September 25th to 29th.

A total of 24 horses will represent the Irish Sport Horse Studbook across four age categories, five-, six-, seven- and eight-year-olds as selected by chef d’equipe Taylor Vard.

Speaking on the squad selected to compete in Valkenswaard, Vard said: “Making selections for Valkenswaard was completely different than Lanaken which is an individual World Championship. This show is a team championship.”

“For Valkenswaard it was about selecting four teams of six horses in each of the four age categories that you feel can deliver on the world stage in the big grass arena at Jan Tops venue, and can also cope with the added pressure that comes with team jumping. By Sunday, the teams are reduced from six horses to three with no discard score similar to the Global Champions League or as we saw at the recent Paris Olympics.”

Five-year-olds (6)

ABC Jaytee Flamenco (Mikey Pender), Ballinaguilkey Ruby (Tracy Nolan), Carrabeg The Full Irish (Katharina Wildling), Crossriver Lackavrea (Nicholas Butler), Lance Corporal (Gemma Phelan), LKS Florence (Richard Kerins).

Six-year-olds (6)

GCS Othello (Mikey Pender), GRC Casper (Gemma Phelan), HHS Chinadoll (Molly Hughes Bravo), HHS Flonix (Mikey Pender), Maximum Numero Too HSH (Sven Hadley), Realteens Orestus (Richard Kerins).

Seven-year-olds (6)

Dougie Drea (Emma O’Dwyer), Dunboyne (Lt Michaeli Byrne), ESI Nixon (Gemma Phelan), HHS Ice Flo (Molly Hughes Bravo), HHS Mercedes (Molly Hughes Bravo), Tick A Lu (Emily Moloney).

Eight-year-olds (6)

DSH Lucky Junior (Jack Ryan), Glendarragh (Lt Michaeli Byrne), HHS Cyprus (Mikey Pender), HHS Orchidee (Molly Hughes Bravo), HHS Tokyo (Molly Hughes Bravo), LVS Goldrush H (Ethen Ahearne).