The Irish showjumping team for the World Championships next month boasts “proven championship and Olympic experience as well as outstanding recent form”.
Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) high performance jumping manager Jessica Kürten has confirmed the horses and riders who will be travelling to Aachen “aiming to build on a successful season on the international stage”.
Ireland finished a whisker off the team podium at last year’s European Championships, and the 2022 worlds, but won silver in Milan at the 2023 Europeans, and this team includes riders and horses from these recent successes.
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The Irish showjumping team World Championships:
Bertram Allen and Qonquest De Rigo were on the European team that finished fourth last year – and second at the LLN final shortly afterwards – and they go to Aachen on good recent form. Their 2026 started with good results at four- and five-star level in the US and has continued in the same vein, including a double jumping clear in the CSI5* La Baule Nations Cup and fifth place in the Rolex grand prix that weekend.
Darragh Kenny said after he and Eddy Blue won the London World Cup leg in 2024 that this may be one of the best horses he’s ridden. He proved why, as they went on to be on the fourth-placed team at the Europeans the next summer, and have since won and been placed at four-and five-star level including a CSI5* US grand prix in March.
Team stalwart Cian O’Connor is selected with relatively new ride Chatolinue PS; he took the reins last October, but they finished on a CSI5* podium in Geneva, and in the London World Cup leg, two months later. They have jumped on five-star Nations Cups this year, including a double clear in the US, and finished fourth in the La Baule grand prix.
Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz were on the Irish team that won European silver in 2023, and they are selected for Aachen straight after Shane’s first five-star win, in the Falsterbo grand prix last weekend. They had been knocking at the door for months though, securing second and third places at this level, jumped LLN double clear and finishing seventh in the Aachen grand prix.
Travelling reserves
The travelling reserves are Denis Lynch and British-bred Vistogrand, who were also on the European team last year, having represented Ireland as individuals in 2023. The powerful stallion’s early promise has developed into a top talent showing consistent form at the top level. Recent results include top-10 finishes at CSI5* level in Rome.
Daniel Coyle with Gisbourne VDL and Jordan Coyle with Chaccolino are the non-travelling reserves.
“The selected squad heads to Aachen on the back of an outstanding run of performances at the highest level of international jumping,” an HSI spokesperson said. “The reserve combinations further underline the current depth in Irish jumping.”
Jessica said this is a strong Irish showjumping team that will be leading contenders at the World Championships.
“I’m excited to go to Aachen with outstanding riders and fantastic horses,” she said. “My thanks go to their owners and their grooms, who have put so much work into this journey to the championships.”
The Irish showjumping team for the World Championships:
Bertram Allen with 10-year-old gelding Qonquest De Rigo
Owner: Aloha Stables
Breeder: U Goossens
Breeding: by Fantomas De Muze, out of a mare by VDL Indoctro
Groom: Lovisa Munter
Darragh Kenny with 14-year-old gelding Eddy Blue
Owner: Carol Sollak
Breeder: Gestut Lewitz
Breeding: by Eldorado VD Zeshoek TN, out of a mare by Chacco-Blue
Groom: Shauna Murray
Cian O’Connor with 13-year-old gelding Chatolinue PS
Owner: Karlswood Partners
Breeder: Gestut Lewitz
Breeding: by Diablo Blanco, out of a mare by Stakkatol
Groom: Johanna Berg
Shane Sweetnam with 13-year-old James Kann Cruz
Owner: Gizmo Partners
Breeder: Patrick Connolly
Breeding: by Kannan, out of a mare by Cruising
Groom: Maria Israelsson
Travelling reserve
Denis Lynch with 13-year-old stallion Vistogrand
Owners: Tipperary’s Finest Est and rider
Breeder: Carron Nicol
Breeding: by Fantaland, out of a mare by Vistoland
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