With just 40 days until the first horses arrive for Millstreet International Horse Show CSI*** (11^th – 16^th August), preparations at the Green Glens Arena in Co. Cork are in full swing. Entries opened yesterday (1^st July) and the there has already been significant interest expressed from Ireland and further afield. With an overall prize fund exceeding €200,000, the Schedule of Classes for the 2015 Show features over 100 classes ranging from Newcomer Ponies up to CSI*** International competitions. Ireland’s top showjumpers will take on a host of visitors from abroad in 8 International classes including 3 LONGINES Ranking classes and culminating in the €50,000 Millstreet International Grand Prix.

For decades, Millstreet has played a pivotal role in the Irish sport horse breeding industry through the development of young horse classes. This year, the Duggan Family are delighted to host the final of the Horse Sport Ireland Sport Horse Foal Championship. Qualifiers will be held throughout the country during the summer and a prize fund of €10,000 will be on offer for the Final where four Champions will be named; Champion Show Jumping colt and filly foal and Champion Eventing colt and filly foal.  There will also be a special prize for the overall best traditionally-bred foal. Following its successful launch in 2014, the Millstreet Foal Sale will take place in the Main Indoor Arena on Saturday 15^th August, immediately before the National Discovery (Four Year Old) Final. Breeders and producers should also note that entries are currently being accepted online for the Young Irelander (3 year old) Qualifiers which take place at the Green Glens Arena, Millstreet, Co. Cork on Tuesday 7^th and Friday 10^th July – both starting at 09:30am. Further to these qualifiers, 3 horses will qualify at Ballina Agricultural Show on 12^th July, West Cork EC Performance Show on Saturday July 18^th, and South East Clare on July 27^th.

In addition to the well-established Ruby (5 Year Old) and Boomerang (6/7 Year Old) classes, the Millstreet schedule includes a 1.20m Mare’s Championship with the winner receiving a semen straw for “Kannan;” the legendary Dutch warmblood stallion that carries blood from some of the most influential show jumpers in Europe; Voltaire, Furioso, Nimmerdor, Gotthard, Farn and Le Mexico.

As well as offering a stage for the development of young horses, Millstreet is committed to providing opportunities for young riders to develop and gain experience. After its successful introduction during the FEI European Championships for Ponies last year, the Duggan Family is pleased to announce that the Young Champion of Ireland competition returns with a new format for 2015. With the generous support of Coolmore Stud, Young Champion of Ireland classes will be staged for 128cms, 138cms and 148cms ponies. Qualifiers will take place across the country, starting with Mullingar EC (28^th June) and moving on to Cavan EC (10^th July), Tubberbride (18^th July) and South-East Clare (26^th July). A total of 24 Athlete and Pony combinations will qualify for the “Young Champion of Ireland” finals to be held during the 2015 Millstreet International Horse Show where the three Young Champions will each win a once in a lifetime trip for three to the London International Horse Show (Olympia) in December, including transport, accommodation and the chance to meet top riders. The Young Champion of Ireland will be decided over 2 competitions by means of a points scoring system. Single points will be awarded for the Table A class with double points being awarded for the Grand Prix class. The Winner will be the athlete who achieves the highest cumulative score.

In a new initiative for 2015, Millstreet will host the Gain Supreme Championship for All-Ireland Inter-Schools. Schools have been vying for qualification throughout the season and the top 10 school teams will battle it out for their share of the €1,000 prize fund on Sunday 16^th August.

Visitors to Millstreet this August will experience further improvements to the facilities on-site including upgraded stables and catering options. In addition to this, a new look Millstreet Horse Show website was launched this week. Developed by ‘Bit-Media,’ the new site allows users to quickly find information relating to upcoming events at the Green Glens Arena, including the inaugural Millstreet / Drishane Castle International Horse Trials (28^th – 30^th August). The popular European video streaming provider ‘ClipmyHorse.TV’ will provide live streaming of all competitions in the Main International Arena as well as the finals of the National Discovery and Young Irelander classes.

Entries for all classes at Millstreet International are now being accepted online.

Further information is available on www.millstreethorseshow.ie.

ENDS