INTERNATIONAL eventing returns to Co Cork next week, where Danny and Michelle Dulohery are preparing to welcome yet another influx of overseas riders to the second edition of the SemaLease Kilguilkey House International Horse Trials.
The first, which was staged just four weeks ago, attracted a good international representation and, despite next weekend’s clash with the Olympic Games, the entries are similar. Maintaining the full international flavour, riders from nine individual nations are due to take part including those from America, Australia, Canada, Britain, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Switzerland and Sweden.
To run two such events in close proximity is always a bit of a gamble, but Dulohery is pleased with the uptake, and is also delighted to announce that all nine classes have been generously sponsored.
“We have new and old sponsors on board, which is great,” he said. “And, of course, once again we have to thank our title sponsor, Richard Ames and SemaLease for his continued support. Richard is likely be at the Olympic Games over the weekend, but his hospitality tent for owners and riders will, as usual, be up and running in the capable hands of Frankie Ward.”
Looking to the competition proper, it is unsurprising to learn that the recently unveiled Ian Stark-designed cross-country courses will remain largely unchanged.
The tracks proved a big hit last month, and, while riders will notice a few tweaks here and there, both the routes and the feature fences will be the same.
Tight affair
The nine classes on offer include long and short format classes at four, three and two-star level. As has become the norm in recent years, the entries for the former are a little disappointing, but with a field of 10, the feature Equi Kingdom CCI4*-L could be a tight affair.
Sporting similar form, the top spot is hard to call, but emerging among the possible favourites at the time of writing is British rider Emma Hyslop Webb. The Leicestershire-based international teams up with the Dutch-bred 10-year-old Jeweetwel who, a winner at Upton House last time out, made his four-star debut at Bramham in May.
Compatriot Jack Pinkney travels with a string of Irish-bred horses, and in this class rides the Ars Vivendi-sired Rehy Revelation, who was 11th in a similar class at Kronenberg this spring, and filled a top 20 placing in the CCI4*-S at Aston Le Walls two weeks ago.
From America, Alex Gartenberg is well mounted with the smart Cooley Kildare and, carrying strong form in Europe this season, this pair might surprise.
There are also four Irish runners and, while any of the quartet could feature at the business end, another strong contender could be Suzanne Hagan with OBOS Take One. The duo was placed fifth in a similar class at Ballindenisk in the spring and will certainly be one to watch.
Popular pair
The Colliers-sponsored CCI4* short format equivalent has a start list of 19, 10 of whom are Irish. The popular pairing of Cathal Daniels and Rioghan Rua immediately catch the eye, but the hot favourites will be the British pairing of Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI.
As very experienced five-star campaigners and fresh home from Aachen, they won this class back in 2022, and have since headed the Lisgarvan equivalent and racked up two second placings at Millstreet.
The remaining classes run through the entire gamut of levels, finalising in a CCI*-Intro and pony sectors in both the long and short format.
The list of sponsors is impressive and big thanks go to Bretland Construction (CCI3*-L), Wurth (CCI3-S), Green Source (CCI-2L), Green Valley Transport (CCI2*-S), DJI (CCI*-Intro) and finally Black Rainbow, who lend their name to the two pony sectors.