European showjumping champions Ireland have named the squad aiming to retain the title — and secure Olympic qualification.
Horse Sport Ireland has announced the combinations that will travel to Rotterdam for the European Championships, which run from 19 to 25 August:
Darragh Kenny with Ann Thompson’s Balou du Reventon
Peter Moloney with team Harmony’s Chianti’s Champion
Cian O’Connor with Ronnoco Jump’s PSG Final
Paul O’Shea with Machu Picchu Partners’ Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu
Shane Sweetnam with Seabrook’s Alejandro
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Cian and Shane were part of the 2017 gold medal-winning European squad in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Irish showjumping manager Rodrigo Pessoa is “hopeful” of securing one of the three Olympic team places on offer but knows it promises to be a “hard-fought battle”.
“We are aware of the importance of this event. This is what we have been waiting for now for a while. We have prolonged this by not qualifying last year so this is now our chance to do it,” he said.
“We are very respectful of the nations we are competing against and we will be very focused on obtaining our qualification and fighting for a team medal.”
The first round of the team competition will take place on 22 August, with the team medals and three Olympic qualification places decided on 23 August.
Following the “hugely important” Europeans, a final Olympic qualifying opportunity will be on offer at the FEI Nations Cup World Final in Barcelona in October.
In this week’s magazine out on Thursday 1 August 2019, check out our full report from the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead, including all the showing and showjumping action, plus expert comments and analysis. Also, read all about Mark Todd hanging up his eventing boots (again), and don’t miss this week’s ‘Vet clinic’ — what to expect from your ex-racehorse’s health and behaviour. We also investigate the risk of buying horses wrapped up in fraud, and read reports from across the disciplines, including eventing, racing, polo and more.
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
