THERE is a strong overseas entry for next week’s SemaLease Kilguilkey International Horse Trials in Co Cork. Speaking to The Irish Field, event organiser Danny Dulohery said they are very happy with the entry.

“There is a good overseas contingent travelling. The preparation is going good and the ground is lovely. We might have to aggravate and we might have to water, but if we have to do either, we will be ready,” he said.

“The tracks are ready, really. Ian Stark (course designer) was over two weeks ago and we made some changes to the four-star track and to some others too. Ian will be here on the Saturday of the event.”

Among the overseas entries are China’s Alex Hua Tian, New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington and Hollie Swain, and British Olympic champion Laura Collett, as well as a host of others from the UK.

While the three and four-star long divisions are light on numbers, the short format alternatives are well stacked, particularily the CCI3*-S, where Collett takes forward three of her younger stable stars, including the Laura and Frank Glynn-bred traditional Irish Sport Horse Killossery Kaptain (CC Captain Cruise x Master Imp).

For the Irish, Steven Smith has been in top form on the national circuit and he has three forward in this class, as does Sian Coleman.

Fresh from his top 20 five-star finish in Luhmuhlen, Ian Cassells will be one to watch in the CCI4*-S with Woodendfarm Jack O D, who finished second in an EI115 (O) at Tyrella last month and was runner-up in this class last year.

Richard Ames has continued his title sponsorship of the event through SemaLease, while each of the nine international classes is individually sponsored. The George Mernagh Memorial Fund is again sponsoring bursaries to all first time Youth combination applications.