Ireland has announced its 15-strong shortlist of entries for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen. The list includes three riders from the team that won silver at last year’s European Championships at Blenheim. Several experienced combinations and potential debutants feature on the roster.
The shortlist was made public on July 1 and features a blend of established performers and rising prospects. Key names include Austin O’Connor with Colorado Blue, who has multiple five-star podiums, and Sam Watson with Ballyneety Rocketman. The European Championship silver medallists Padraig McCarthy, Aoife Clark and Ian Cassells are also nominated.
Selectors will narrow the list further before the July 27 deadline for definite entries. Several horses have recent strong results at four-star level, while others are returning from minor setbacks.
The panel consists of independent chair Brian Mangan, high performance manager Sam Griffiths, Gillian Kyle and Declan Cullen. With the championships still weeks away, the final squad remains open to change due to form or fitness.