Iona Rossely

She has ridden since the age of three and played polo in later years before switching to show jumping. Rossely took up endurance six years ago in the UAE since which time she has competed extensively here in the UAE and Europe.

She represented Ireland in the last two World Championships and finished 29th in the 2003 Open European Championship. Rossely's training base in the UAE, were she has five horses, is desert Palms Polo and Country Club in Dubai, she also has six horses in training in France.

Rossely is fortunate to have the choice of two horses for The Presidents Cup, the Australian bred Auscot Park Astra or the French bred Gaziza Larzac, the horse she rode in the recent World Championship who was eliminated after the fourth leg due to a muscle cramp. She finished 10th on Auscot Park Astra in the 160km Al Wathba night ride last April.

Iona is not renowned for speed but rarely fails to finish.