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Ireland puts focus on 2012 eventing team

December 31, 2011

Team Ireland Equestrian's Eventing High Performance Manager Ginny Elliot has named a provisional squad of 12 riders and 14 horses that will participate in a squad training programme in January and February of 2012.


Mark Kyle and Coolio. © Mike Bain
Elliot said that the training would commence on the weekend of January 7 and 8.

"We will start with two weekends of pure dressage with Ferdi Eilberg and then a number of weekends of dressage with Ferdi and show jumping with Ian Fearon," Elliot said.

Training is to take place at the Army Equitation School, and the squad would also be using the South Leinster region combined training competitions in Coilog in February.

"The squad is very much open ended and there are other combinations who could come into contention if they perform well early in the season," she said.

As regards Olympic qualification Ireland currently has four riders well placed in the rankings but several new events have been added to the FEI Calendar in February before the cut off of March 1 and this has made things more uncertain.

"The reality is that our riders will have to compete in Ballindenisk in February to try to secure places. It is not ideal but I think it's manageable and we need all the riders to put their shoulder to the wheel in order to give us the best chance of qualifying a full team," Elliot said.

 

 

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