Dawn of a new era as Kürten leads Ireland into 2026 Longines League of Nations campaign
Ireland’s senior jumping team enters an exciting new era next month as High Performance Jumping Manager Jessica Kürten leads the team into her debut five-star Nations Cup at the opening leg of the Longines League of Nations in Abu Dhabi.
Having won in Dubai last season, the green jackets will be hopeful of repeating the feat on February 13th, with Kürten blending youth and experience as Trevor Breen is joined in the team by his brother Shane, Mikey Pender and Niamh McEvoy.
Pender and Trevor Breen return to a happy hunting ground – both jumped two flawless rounds as Ireland topped the Abu Dhabi podium in 2025 to kick the series off in style. Breen will partner Highland President and Pender rides the Irish Sport Horse HHS Los Angeles, the same pairings that helped earn Ireland their momentous success last year.
Multiple Youth European medal-winner McEvoy, who picked up a first five-star success at the 2025 Dublin Horse Show, has been in fantastic form and deservedly earns a debut call-up to the five-star ranks.
McEvoy lines up with Olympic GL FVD, on board whom she helped Ireland to win the three-star Nations Cup in Vejer de la Frontera last October.
Shane Breen makes his Longines League of Nations debut and comes into the series in fine form, having seen off a field of 50 combinations to win the Longines World Cup leg with BP Arctic Blue at the four-star show in Abu Dhabi last weekend. They will renew their partnership in Abu Dhabi.
Horse Sport Ireland’s High Performance Jumping Manager Kürten said: “We are very much looking forward to the opening leg of the Longines League of Nations.
“It is a team of experienced combinations mixed with younger pairings, and it gives them the chance to make their mark early in the season, in what is a prestigious competition.”
Ireland won the opening leg last year on the way to an overall runner-up finish in the final in Barcelona, and will face 10 rivals in Abu Dhabi – USA, Britain, Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland and Brazil, the world’s top 10 nations, as well as hosts UAE.
The series consists of four qualifying events, culminating in the final in Barcelona in October, where €1,600,000 in prize money and lucrative bonus rewards await the world’s elite.
From Abu Dhabi, the series moves on to Ocala, Florida in March, returns to Europe for the Rotterdam leg in June, before St.Tropez–Gassin hosts the final qualifying leg in September. Following the four qualifying legs, the top eight teams in the league standings will qualify for the final.
The Horse Sport Ireland Jumping Team for the Longines League of Nations is as follows:
Co. Tipperary’s Shane Breen with BP Arctic Blue, owned by Breen Equestrian.
Co. Tipperary’s Trevor Breen with Highland President, owned by Heather Black.
Co. Tyrone’s Niamh McEvoy with Olympic GL FVD, owned by Keith Ennis.
Co. Kildare’s Mikey Pender with HHS Los Angeles (ISH), owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd.
BREEDING: HHS Los Angeles (ISH) – 2014 mare by Le Roi (ZDP) out of China Cavalier (ISH) by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Breeder: Marion Hughes. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).
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