EVENTING enthusiasts are in for a real treat next week as the 10th edition of the Sema Lease Camphire International Horse Trials welcomes its biggest international entry to date.

Attracting a glittering array of eventing hierarchy hailing from a record-breaking 16 individual nations, this year’s milestone fixture will also, for the first time, host the prestigious home leg of the of the FEI Nations Cup series.

Smashing further records, and with precious Olympic qualifications up for grabs, an unprecedented eight countries will take part in the team competition featuring riders from Belgium, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and New Zealand.

In addition, a mouth-watering array of seven international classes will fill the bulk of the weekend’s action while the ever-popular young horse Masterclasses will take place on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Course designer and joint-organiser Paul Brady spoke to The Irish Field of his delight at hosting this year’s edition of the Nations Cup. “Camphire feels like it has become of age!” he said.

“It is worthy of its Nations Cup status, and we are delighted with the level of support from sponsors that has enabled us to do so much. Not only have we been able to develop all the new features of the course, but with the help in particular of Waterford Leader Partnership we will have digital scoring and importantly, live steaming of the event.”

Next week’s showcase is, for many of the European countries, the last chance to gain qualification for next year’s Olympic Games. While this has undoubtedly boosted the entries to capacity, another and not insignificant draw is the depth of classes on offer. This tempts riders to travel with numerous horses (and owners) and make the long journey more than worthwhile.

Household names

Among the household names heading to the picture postcard venue is regular visitor and world number one Tim Price. The New Zealand ace will be accompanied by his wife Jonelle, while making his first visit to Camphire will be their compatriot and Kiwi eventing legend Sir Mark Todd.

Fellow antipodean, and the 2018 recipient of the €10,000 HSI bonus, is the Australian squad member Kevin McNab. The Surrey-based rider was on fire at Kilguikey last month, and will be keen to rack up further points in the counting CCI3* classes.

From China, Alex Hua Tian returns for a second year in succession, while making his debut appearance will be the polished and popular Japanese rider Kazuma Tomoto.

Historically, the British travel to Camphire in their droves, and this year is no exception. Spearheading the contingent is World Equestrian Games gold medallist Tom McEwen, together with fellow internationals Harry Meade, Francis Whittington, Daisy Berkley, Paul Sims, Hannah Bates and a string of young riders.

In the Nations Cup showcase, there will be full teams from Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium, as well as squads from Ireland, New Zealand and Great Britain.

Sally Corscadden is fielding a team with a mix of youth and experience. Sarah Ennis (Woodcourt Garrison) and Sam Watson (Imperial Sky) line out alongside Brian Morrison (Global Orchid) and Fred Scala (Everon Vivendi).

“We are really looking forward to our home Nations Cup in Camphire," Corscadden said. “It is a lovely venue in a beautiful setting and a super atmosphere. We want to produce a strong competitive performance so it is great to have two of our World Equestrian Games sliver medal winning team riders [Sam Watson and Sarah Ennis] on the squad and to give up and coming riders Brian Morrison and Fred Scala senior team experience.”

The cross-country course runs over the rolling farmlands of the Wilks and Browne families and, featuring Camphire House and the River Blackwater as a backdrop, it is undeniably one of the most picturesque event venues in the world.

Last week, the FEI Technical Delegate Gert Nabar made his preliminary visit, and was impressed by the use of the landscape in the courses.

“This is the difference between the events on the continent and Ireland. The cross-country belongs to the landscape, and the course builder has really thought about where he builds the fences. It is real, old fashioned cross-country but in a good way,” Nabar said.

Cross-country

Sponsored by long standing Camphire supporters, Cahervillahow, the Paul Brady-designed course for the FEI Nations Cup CCI4*-S sets out over the same line as last year.

A few confidence-giving warm up fences lead on nicely to the first real test of accuracy, which features two angled pheasant feeders at the Horse Sport Ireland Water.

A more serious challenge however, is at the new Al Eile Stud water complex which, entered via a large drop, will test both the courage and the discipline of the horse, while at the same time necessitating positive forward riding.

The next major question comes up at the Cahervillahow angled brushes, a new set of brush shoulders heading downhill on two strides. With that behind them, horses can take a breather, as they gallop on towards the Gain Table, the Goresbridge Go for Gold ditch palisade then to the Ecclesiastical Hollow.

Course designer Paul Brady working with course builder Barry Brady on the new Al Eile Stud Water Complex

Next up, the skinny triple Blarney Castle brush, which is at maximum spread, will require pinpoint accuracy before a stride lengthening gallop to the Plusvital Picnic Table.

Another new feature fence appears in the main arena, which this year is attractively themed on the local Dromana Bridge. The bridge is a spectacle and a work of art in itself, and jumped from either side is followed by some matching corners. Also new, the Fernhill Sport Horses Silver Birch heads down towards Camphire House before the Thin Gin Avenue Crossing takes competitors on to the spectator friendly Sema Lease Water complex.

Finally heading towards home, riders negotiate the Legacy Cider Stand, the Gain Equine Nutrition brush corner complex and the welcome sight of David’s Pine Cone Stand at the last.

The organising team are watching the weather carefully, and with an aggravator and a supply of water on site, are fully prepared to do whatever is necessary to assist the ground conditions.

Of course, Camphire is not just about the horses. The country fair offers a large selection of artisan food and crafts, while other popular attractions will include the beautiful Blackwater Eco trips and the charity Dog Show sponsored by Gain Pet Nutrition.

For all the information, for the live streaming results, and to buy tickets see: www.camphirehorsetrials.com.