GOOD LUCK TO THE IRISH JUNIORS IN VALE SABROSO!

HORSE Sport Ireland has confirmed the six combinations that will represent Ireland at the 2011 European Junior (U18) Eventing Championships in Vale Sabroso, Portugal from September 7th until 11th.

The squad in alphabetical order is:

Angela Dennehy; Decent Gamble
Tori Dixon; Shadow Light
Orlagh Keenan; Moss Star
Katie Moffatt; Pick n Mix II
Ann Molony; Sheepcote Welcome
Lucca Stubington; Kilminchy Condor

Four of the riders will compete as part of the team while the two other riders will compete as individuals.

Team Ireland Equestrian’s Junior Eventing Chef d’Equipe Debbie Byrne said: "We are very much looking forward to the Championships this year. All the riders have worked throughout the year with full commitment to the system and trainers that have been put in place.

"I am confident in my selection of my squad to travel and it is a matter now to get them through their long journey in the best possible shape, so that they can all compete to their full potential, and in doing so, be successful as a team and individually. Our preparations have been going according to plan and we hope this will continue."

The team will also be accompanied by Jane O’Flynn, Show Jumping and Cross Country coach, Terry Boon, Dressage Coach, and the team vet William Lalor.

We are very excited to tell you about the arrival of Hill Dancer and Domecq, both belonging to Gina Johnston. The half brothers out of Gina's mare Renkum Blathainn are therefore related to Tyrella Love Song and Fiorella. They have been beautifully produced by the Smith brothers, Stephen and Trevor, and the long term objective is to bring them on for Gina's grand-daughter, the well known working hunter pony rider, Sasha Bloch. Gina and her husband Paddy are wonderful supporters of eventing in Ireland and love nothing more that to see their horses competed in Ireland by Irish riders.

Winterfold Ivy has been leased to the McConnell family for Rebecca to ride. Rebecca's mother Joyce evented successfully under her maiden name of McCammon and her aunt is Rachelle Harding. We wish them every success for that is looking like a match made in heaven.

Lucca and Kilminchy Condor finish 2nd on their dressage score at the Tattersalls International Horse Trials CCIJ* 29th May 2011.

Great disappointment as Kilminchy Condor was withdrawn in the holding box at the 1st trot up at the Junior Europeans. She punctured her sole as she was being prepared for the trot up. On the Saturday evening she had her shoe put back on with a pad and went for a hack - none the worse!

Lucca and Kilminchy Condor have been selected to represent Ireland at the Junior European Championships in Germany in August.

Lucca and Brinkum's Helmut win all 4 tests at Marlton U25 Dressage Festival and are Pony Medium Champions.

Lucca and Kilminchy Condor finished 3rd in the CCI* at Burgie 18th - 20th June 2010 completing on her dressage score and jumping 1 of only 2 clears in the show-jumping.

Marlton Summer Dressage Festival 6th June - Lucca and Brinkum's Helmut win the Medium Championship against all comers.

Lucca and Brinkum's Helmut at the Marlton Summer Festival 2010. Photo by Prime Photography

Kilminchy Condor, 9 year old bay mare 16.1hh by Condios ex The Jewel of Arlington by Diamond Clover owned by Georgia Stubington
Oliver's Green, 7 year old bay gelding by Florida Son ex Brockley Green owned by Sweet Wall
Ethos, 7 year old grey mare by Last News ex Ashley Green owned by Georgia Stubington
Apanoose, 6 year old skewbald mare 15hh by Posidonas ex Apalachicola owned by Sweet Wall
Hill Dancer, 6 year old brown gelding 16.1hh by Spirit House ex Renkum Blathainn owned by Gina Johnston.
Domecq, 5 year old brown gelding 16.1hh by Jimble ex Renkum Blathainn owned by Gina Johnston.

*2011 Eventing top 10 placings
Dromiskin 1 Oliver's Green Intro 02/04/11 34.5 pens 1st
Tyrella 1 Kilminchy Condor CNCJ* 09/04/11 32.6 pens 3rd
Tyrella 1 Oliver's Green Intro 09/04/11 35.5 pens 5th
Tyrella 2 Kilminchy Condor CNCJ** 16/04/11 40.7 pens 1st
Tyrella 3 Ethos Junior C 23/04/11 31 pens 3rd
Ballindenisk Kilminchy Condor CIC* 01/05/11 49.6 pens 6th
Kircubbin Ethos Junior C 14/05/11 48 pens 5th
Tattersalls Kilminchy Condor CCIJ* 29/05/11 49 pens 2nd

2010 Eventing top 10 placings
Tyrella (1) Kilminchy Condor CNCJ* 03/04/10 42pens 7th
Tyrella (1) Winterfold Ivy CNCP* 03/04/10 27pens 1st
Tyrella (2) Kilminchy Condor CNCJ* 10/04/10 36.8pens 4th
Tyrella (2) Winterfold Ivy CNCP* 10/04/10 25pens 1st
Tyrella (3) Kilminchy Condor CNCJ* 17/04/10 37.5pens 2nd
Tyrella (3) Winterfold Ivy CNCP** 17/04/10 42.6pens 1st
Rademon Kilminchy Condor CNCJ* 01/05/10 73.6pens 6th
Rademon Winterfold Ivy CNCP** 01/05/10 45.5pens 1st
Kircubbin (1) Kilminchy Condor CNCJ* 08/05/10 33pens 1st
Tattersalls Winterfold Ivy CCNP** 30/05/10 67.1pens 10th
Tattersalls Kilminchy Condor CCIJ* 30/05/10 62.1pens 9th
Burgie Kilminchy Conor CCI* 20/06/10 48.8pens 3rd
Junior European Championships
Kilminchy Conor CCIOJ* 20/08/10 Did not start
Craigantlet Rose of Delvin Junior C 28/08/10 24pens 1st
Loughanmore Kilminchy Condor CNCJ* 04/09/10 40.8pens 3rd
Loughanmore Rose of Delvin CNCJ* 04/09/10 37.7pens 2nd
Lisgarvan Ho Kilminchy Condor CNCJ* 11/09/10 41.8pens 5th
Lisgarvan Ho Rose of Delvin CNCJ* 11/09/10 33.7pens 1st

Born in Antrim in 1995 Lucca started riding at 2 and joined the East Antrim Pony Club as soon as she was old enough. Her riding career has progressed through Working Hunter Ponies - Massereene Fairy Light, Mighty Ben, Lady Arabella, LLunymynydd Melyn Mair and Winterfold Ivy to Pony Club Eventing. She represented Northern Ireland at the European Working Hunter Championships at Oatridge in Scotland in 2007 on Lady Arabella and on the Inter Country Team competition at BSPS on LLunymynydd Melyn Mair in 2008. In 2009 she won the Pony Club Area 17 Dressage Championship on Brinkum's Helmut and qualified for the Pony Club Championships where she finished 4th in her arena. She also started competing in Eventing Ireland pony classes on Ballyduff Sparkey in 2009. She attends Ballyclare High School where she starts her GCSE courses in Sept 2010.