Ireland’s WEG goal is to secure Olympic qualification
The team competition will be decided on Thursday, Sept 4, with manager Robert Splaine from Cork candidly admitting his main goal is to secure qualification for the Rio Olympics.
It is the first of two chances to book a place in the 2016 Games and it would bring a welcome boost after a season that sees Ireland battling relegation from division one of the Furusiyya Nations Cup Series.
The eventing championships start next Thursday, with the squad of Clare Abbott, Aoife Clark, Sarah Ennis, Joseph Murphy, Camilla Speirs and Sam Watson aiming to rise to the challenge under manager Nick Turner.
The Briton is also setting Olympic qualification as his main target, with places for six countries up for grabs.
The endurance contest also starts next Thursday, with Ireland represented by Tom McGuinness and Helen McFarland. Forty-seven nations with 173 riders will tackle the 160km course.
Having recently staged the European pony championships to acclaim at Millstreet, Co Cork, Noel C Duggan said he is considering bidding for the 2022 World Equestrian Games.
In 2008, he offered to bid for the 2014 games, with Lyons promising to bankroll it to the tune of €10m, but Horse Sport Ireland rejected the offer after a feasibility study.
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