Riders and horses from 10 nations are heading to Millstreet International (1) in Co Cork, Ireland, for a bumper weekend (June 2-5) of eventing competition, from Ponies to 4*, in the land of the horse.

The Horse Sport Ireland CCI4*-L will be a selection trial for the FEI World Eventing Championships in Italy in September and features top riders from Ireland, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, France, Japan and New Zealand. The recent Badminton winner and Tokyo 2020 team gold medallist, Great Britain’s Laura Collett, riding Dacapo, runner-up at Aachen, Germany last year, heads a competitive field.

Kiwis Tim and Jonelle Price, who are based in Britain and are regular visitors to the Duggan family’s Green Glens Arena, bring Coup De Coeur and Happy Boy (Tim) and Kilbunny Andy (Jonelle). They are joined by New Zealand-based Clarke Johnston (Menlo Park and Leopard’s Action) and Virginia Thompson (Capitaine De Hus Z and Gladstone) plus Samantha Lissington (Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ).

The Australians won team silver at the Tokyo Olympic Games and team member Kevin McNab (Willunga) will be one to watch. He is joined by US-based Clayton Fredericks, a world silver medallist in 2006, on FE Coldplay and Bill Levett (Sligo Candy Cane).

Ireland are the reigning world silver medallists and the home side is well represented by Cathal Daniels, a member that 2018 team and the individual European bronze medallist in 2019, riding CDS Cairnview Romulo, plus Louise Bloomer (Hollybrook Hotshot), Elizabeth Power (Senza Fine) and Alison Holden (O My Balladeer).

The Connolly’s RED MILLS CCI4*-S is a predominantly Irish affair, but there will be a big challenge from Jonelle Price on her 2018 Luhmuhlen five-star winner Faerie Dianimo.

Millstreet always acts as a shop window for young horses and the well-established National Eventing Discovery Classes will showcase Irish breeding and the stars of the future – Oliver Townend’s Olympic gold medallist Ballaghmor Class is a former winner here. The judges will include Britain’s Angela Tucker, Douglas Hibbert and Jane Tolley, plus Felicismo Aguado, who will be officiating at the World Young Horse Championships in France in October.

‘It’s great to be seeing so many big names from overseas returning to Millstreet,’ said event director Thomas Duggan. ‘There’s always a great Irish welcome and a fun atmosphere, and course-designer Mike Etherington-Smith and all the team have been working hard to produce the usual excellent educational competitions for the star horses of the future.’

Click here for the timetable and links to live scores and streaming.

Photo: Cathal Daniels (IRE) and CDS Cairnview Romolu competing in the Connolly’s RED MILLS 3*S at Millstreet in 2021 (Credit: Bit-Media)