The Irish eventing squad entries shortlist for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen 2026 has been revealed, including three combinations from the silver medal-winning team at last season’s European Championships at Blenheim.
The 15-strong list of nominated entries features a mix of experienced pairs and potential championship debutants. The Blenheim trio that won Ireland’s first senior European eventing team medal for 30 years are Padraig McCarthy with Pomp N Circumstance, Aoife Clark with Full Monty De Lacense and Ian Cassells with Millridge Atlantis. Sadly, the fourth horse there – Robbie Kearns’ ride Chance Encounter — died a few weeks afterwards, owing to colic and sepsis.
Despite that historic medal, Ireland’s Aachen squad is wide open.
Millridge Atlantis looks most likely of the trio to regain his spot. The 12-year-old is capable of posting a sub-30 dressage mark and has a spotless cross-country record since 2021 as well as being a reliable showjumper. He has posted two solid double clears at four-star short this season and could bid to improve on individual 14th from Blenheim.
Padraig has three horses nominated. Pomp N Circumstance’s form is arguably the weakest having faulted cross-country on his two international runs since finishing 12th and best of the Irish at Blenheim. Padraig’s 10-year-old home-bred MGH Zabaione could get the nod thanks to his top-10 finish at Boekelo last autumn, though he had 20 penalties at Bramham last time out. Lady Ophelia finished in the top 20 at Badminton and is a reliable cross-country performer but is not strong in the dressage phase.
Aoife’s ride Full Monty De Lacense has done little wrong since his fall at Blenheim, securing an eye-catching fourth place at Bramham CCI4*-L on his dressage score last time out.
Sarah Ennis rode as an individual at Blenheim on Dourough Ferro Class Act, who turned heads with his breathtaking scope in both jumping phases. This shortlisted 11-year-old is surely a team horse in the making and has form. He was runner-up at Millstreet on his last international run, and has a clear cross-country round at Aachen in 2025 already on his CV.
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Austin O’Connor and 17-year-old Colorado Blue (Salty) are the standout combination in the Irish shortlist as the 2023 Maryland winners with multiple five-star podiums on their CV. They have finished best of the Irish on both their Olympic appearances. Assuming the grey is back to full fitness following their withdrawal from Badminton and Kentucky owing to a “setback” this spring, they will likely spearhead Ireland’s challenge.
Austin is also nominated with Salty’s 12-year-old stablemate Sixmilewater, who jumped clear round Badminton in May.
Team stalwart Sam Watson is in the running to add another world medal to his collection, having been part of the silver medal-winning team in Tryon in 2018. Two of his team-mates there, Padraig and Sarah, are also shortlisted this time. Sam’s current ride Ballyneety Rocketman is a superb cross-country horse with a four-star long win to his name, but this rangy galloper may find Aachen’s twists and turns frustrating.
Georgie Goss has two horses in the mix to make her championship debut for Ireland. Her striking black gelding Kojak has an impressive record with several top-10 finishes at four-star. Their only blot on an almost unblemished cross-country record is a stumble in the water at the end of the Boekelo track last season, but they’ve been on form this year and are smart in all three phases.
The chasing pack includes Susie Berry (John The Bull), Sian Coleman (Carrowgar Je T’Aime Max), Lucy Latta (RCA Patron Saint) and Joseph Murphy (Calmaro).
Ireland’s high performance selection panel is made up of independent chair Brian Mangan and high performance manager Sam Griffiths, alongside selectors Gillian Kyle and Declan Cullen.
With more than six weeks until the World Championships kick off, some combinations may have a final run according to what suits each horse. Either way, it’s set to be a nail-biting countdown as final squads are revealed and Aachen draws near.
The next key date for all World Championship teams is 27 July, the deadline for definite entries – when the final squad (bar injury or illness) will be announced.
Irish eventing squad shortlist for the 2026 Aachen World Championships
The full list, in alphabetical order by athlete surname, is:
Susie Berry with 15-year-old gelding John The Bull
Owners: Nick & Helen Caton
Breeder: James Byrne
Breeding: by Luidam, out of a mare by Houmayoun
Ian Cassells with 12-year-old gelding Millridge Atlantis
Owners: Ber, Fiona and Gerry Leahy
Breeder: Sean O’Loughlin
Breeding: by Dinan Casscaletto (ISH) out of a mare by Warrenstown You 2
Aoife Clark with 11-year-old gelding Full Monty de Lacense
Owner: Ace of Spades Syndicate
Breeder: SCEA Du Noron
Breeding: by Quickly De Kreisker out of a mare by Vesontio Du Mesnil
Sian Coleman with 13-year-old gelding Carrowgar Je T’Aime Max
Owner-breeder: Gina Heaps
Breeding: by Je T’Aime Flamenco out of a mare by Coolcorron Cool Diamond
Sarah Ennis with 11-year-old gelding Dourough Ferro Class Act
Owners: James and Niki Potterton
Breeder: Gordon Dury
Breeding: by Creevagh Ferro out of a mare by OBOS Quality 004
Georgie Goss with 16-year-old mare Feloupe
Owners: Suzanne Doggett, Lucy Fleming, Kelly Holmes and rider
Breeder: MWK Gabriel
Breeding: by Ustinov out of a mare by Zapateado
Georgie Goss with 11-year-old gelding Kojak
Owners: Molly Fisher, Lucy Fleming, Samantha Wilson and rider
Breeder: H. Vos
Breeding: by Namelus R out of a mare by Contender
Lucy Latta with 15-year-old gelding RCA Patron Saint.
Owners: Alison, David and Lesley Crampton
Breeder: Richard Ames
Breeding: by Grafenstolz TSF
Padraig McCarthy with 10-year-old gelding MGH Zabaione
Owners: Peter Cattell and Diane Brunsden
Breeder: rider
Breeding: by Zavall VDL out of a mare by Acobat II
Padraig McCarthy with 12-year-old gelding Pomp N Circumstance
Owners: Rachel and Sarah Gough
Breeder: Sarah Gough
Breeding: by Pompadour xx out of a mare by Furisto
Padraig McCarthy with 14-year-old mare Lady Ophelia
Owners: Denis Hickey, Emma de Haan, and Pamela Idelson
Breeder: Denis Hickey
Breeding: sire not known; by a mare out of Over The River xx
Joseph Murphy with 15-year-old gelding Calmaro
Owners: Richard and Tanja Ames, Annette O’Callaghan and Alan Bell
Breeder: Hartmut Schack
Breeding: by Carpalano out of a mare by Elsurimo xx
Austin O’Connor with 17-year-old gelding Colorado Blue
Owner: The Salty Syndicate
Breeder: Mellon Stud
Breeding: by Jaguar Mail out of a mare by Rock King
Austin O’Connor with 12-year-old gelding Sixmilewater
Owner: Nicky Bennell
Breeder: Denis O’Riordan
Breeding: by OBOS Quality 004 out of a mare by Buster King xx
Sam Watson with 12-year-old gelding Ballyneety Rocketman
Owners: Hannah and Sam Watson
Breeder: James Hickey
Breeding: by Diamond Discovery xx out of a mare by Errigal Flight
Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
