Ireland set to take only five eventers to WEG due to cost

Ireland is likely to only field five eventers, rather than the permitted six, at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky in the autumn.

High performance manager Ginny Elliot said: “It looks like we will only be able to take five combinations rather than six to the games due to the prohibitive cost of flying horses to the USA.

“This is not ideal, but if we want to be able to fund an effective training and preparation programme we have to make compromises.”

Teams at WEG consist of four riders — unlike the Olympics where there are five in a team — but nations can also take two competitors to ride as individuals. Ginny is expected to announce the Irish longlist for WEG at the end of this week.

The Irish combinations who have completed four-stars this spring are:

• Geoff Curran and The Jump Jet (37th at Kentucky)
• Sam Watson and Horseware Bushman (13th at Badminton)
• Camilla Speirs and Portersize Just A Jiff (14th at Badminton)
• Mark Kyle and Step In Time II (20th at Badminton)
• Elizabeth Power and Kilpatrick River (31st at Badminton)
• Austin O’Connor and Pocket Rocket (42nd at Badminton)
• Michael Ryan and Old Road (43rd at Badminton)
• Patricia Ryan and Fernhill Clover Mist (14th at Luhmühlen)
• Michael Ryan and Ballylynch Adventure (17th at Luhmühlen)
• Melanie Ashe and Rathmolyon Flight (25th at Luhmühlen)

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.