‘Difficult’ few days as Turner finalises Euro squad

Ireland eventing manager Nick Turner conceded he “had to make a few difficult phonecalls in the last few days” as he finalised his squad for next month’s European Championships.

Briton Turner, who took over from Ginny Elliot in January, said, however, that those not among the six riders travelling to Malmo in Sweden are still in contention for next year’s World Equestrian Games (WEG), Ireland’s first chance to qualify a team for the 2016 Olympics.

The squad for the Europeans, which take place on Aug 29-Sept 1, includes just two of last year’s Olympians, Aoife Clark (Master Crusoe) and Joseph Murphy (Electric Cruise), whose show jumping clears elevated the team to fifth place. The remainder are Jonty Evans (Double Dutch), Elizabeth Power (September Bliss), Austin O’Connor (Ringwood Mississippi) and Sam Watson (Horseware Bushman). The reserve is Sarah Ennis (Sugar Brown Babe).