Ireland sending Nations Cup Team to Abu Dhabi

Next month Ireland will be sending its first Nations’ Cup team of 2010 to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
The show takes place at the Ghantoot Polo Club grounds between February 3-6.

Every class carries world ranking points, including a 300,000 euro Grand Prix,

Horse Sport Ireland Team Manager Robert Splaine has announced his team as:
Billy Twomey; Je t’Aime Flamenco or Tinka’s Serenade or Blue Thunder.
Cameron Hanley; Southwind VDL
Cian O’Connor; Rancorrado
Dermott Lennon; Hallmark Elite

Denis Lynch and Jessica Kurten would be competing in the World Cup Qualifying competition at Bordeaux in France on the same
weekend in February added Splaine

Robert Splaine: ” We are delighted to be invited to compete at this prestigious event. It is a great opportunity for us, as with the current
global recession there may be fewer and fewer five-star shows available to everyone, and this will be an occasion where we can line out some of our top riders and horses.
The horses will be flown out to Abu Dhabi that week.
With five Irish riders now in the world’s top 50, it is essential that we give them every chance to maintain their form, and Abu Dhabi seems ideal,
with not only a Nations’ Cup, but also valuable world ranking points and substantial prize money on offer.
This means that six of our top-ranked riders will be in action at five-star shows over those few days. In the current economic climate I think that can only be welcomed, as there will be huge competition to get into five star shows in the season ahead.”