IRELAND’S show jumping team will
enter the arena at Wellington in Florida shortly after midnight (Irish time)
tonight (Friday) to compete in their first Nations’ Cup of 2014.

Facing
strong opposition, Ireland will be hoping to be included in the eight teams that
progress to the second round from a starting field of 12 nations taking part.

The $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, presented by G&C Farm, will
see three teams  – Canada, Mexico, and the host nation USA –  eligible to win
points in the North America, Central America and Caribbean League.

Irish
team manager Robert Splaine said today: “While Ireland cannot accumulate points
tonight towards qualification in the Furusiyya league final as we are in a
different group, performance would augur well for the long season ahead.

“It’s an opportunity for us to assess new combinations early in the
season at this magnificent venue. Both Paul O’Shea and Cian O’Connor will be
riding new horses at Nations’ Cup level, while Shane Sweetnam and Richie Moloney
will be riding horses that are relatively new to this level
also.”

Ireland will line out as follows:

Shane Sweetnam/Eregast
Van’T Kiezelhof (Owner: Spy Coast Farm LLC )
Richie Moloney/Carrabis Z
(Owner: Equinimity LLC) )
Paul O’Shea/Lilli (Owner: Georgina
Bloomberg)
Cian O’Connor/Quidam’s Cherie (Owner: Adena Springs
Stables)

Ireland has been drawn tenth to jump of the 12 nations taking
part.

The competition will be available on Livestream in Ireland at
midnight on Friday from www.feitv.org

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