DESPITE the uncertainty over Brexit, a good number of overseas riders will be making their way to Co Cork next week, where Ballindenisk launches the international event season for 2019.

The enduring appeal of Irish eventing has attracted a healthy entry, as riders from nine nations will compete against a strong home contingent. The individual deputation from Britain numbers around 22 at the time of going to press, while other nations represented include Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Italy and Japan.

Many of these riders will be chasing Olympic qualification, while others include top riders and former Olympians Alex Hua Tian (China) and Toshiyuki Tanaka from Japan.

Other household names include British team stalwart Nicola Wilson, the popular husband and wife duo of Ben and Emma Hobday, Italian ace Giovanni Ugolotti and Canadian rider Kathryn Robinson. Flying the home flag will be WEG silver medallist Sam Watson, Olympian Michael Ryan as well as a host of up and coming riders.

Although the entry as a whole is a little down on recent years, it is by no means disappointing. “Brexit isn’t helping, because people aren’t sure what is going to happen,” event organiser Peter Fell told The Irish Field. “We’re not new to this game, so we know what it’s like. Of course, we always want more, but overall I’m really happy and looking forward to it.”

Twelve months ago, this fixture fell victim to the weather, but luckily a good spring has enabled Fell and his team to prepare the ground in ideal conditions. The omission of the spring national fixture has eased things further. “This has made so much difference, and given us the time to prepare well in advance. We have done a lot of work on the tracks, which have already been mowed, and we will continue to be so.”

Chinese Olympian Alex Hua Tian and Don Geniro will run in the CCI4*-S. Photo Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Riders have the choice of nine international classes this year, with the new addition being the CCI* Intro (1.05m) which has been designed to give both horses and riders a first taste of international competition. “We’re delighted to have it,” added Fell. “It will be like a big pre-novice, and built especially for the younger horses and less experienced riders.”

WATSON FAVOURITE

At the other end of the scale, the focus will be centring on the two CCI4* classes, both long and short format. In the former, which is supported by Horse Sport Ireland, there are just four Irish riders among the 19 entrants, and standing out as overall favourite is Sam Watson with Imperial Sky.

Winners at Tyrella recently, Watson looks the one to beat, but will face strong competition not only from fellow in-form compatriot Alison Holden with O My Balladeer, but from a host of foreign runners. British rider Nicola Wilson looks especially fancied aboard the former Andrew Nicholson ride Yacabo BK, who won an advanced class at Weston Park only last weekend.

A similar number of runners fill the start list in the short format class, which features a number of Badminton hopefuls. These include Ireland’s intended runners Jim Newsam with Magennis, Clare Abbott and Euro Prince, as well as Ciaran Glynn and his five-star specialist November Night.

Another interesting runner is the mare Bernadette Utopia, who under Padraig McCarthy was placed in the long format here in 2017 and is now in the capable hands of Japan’s star rider Kazuma Tomoto.

Badminton-bound Clare Abbott and Euro Prince will run in the CCI4*-S at Ballindenisk International. Photo Anne Hughes

Away from competition, the action will, as usual, centre on the vicinity of Ballindenisk House, which provides a hub for the stabling, offices, restaurant and bar. One major difference however, is that this year’s event will be entirely paperless.

Making use of the innovative Ballindenisk App devised by Kate Fell, the programme, the entries and the constantly updated results will all be available at a click. “We are trying to innovate and to progress,” explained Fell. “It’s handier, and from a greener point of view it does of course save paper.”

The event will also remember the late Chris Corballis, who through his close ties with the Fell family was a large part of Ballindenisk. His family have presented a perpetual memorial award in the form of a trophy sculptured by Mona Croome-Carroll. Unusually this will not go to a class winner, but in the words of Clare Corballis, it will “honour someone for going the extra mile in memory of someone who did.”

COURSE ADDITIONS

Despite having a major revamp in the past two years, Peter Fell and his team have introduced a number of new fences to all the tracks. Peter himself will be in charge of one, three, and four-star courses, while Co Wicklow designer Dereck Hamilton is at the helm of the two-star classes.

The routes commence behind the stables and steadily wind around before they traverse the famous avenue crossing and move on to the furthest end of the farm. There are a number of beefy additions, including a new water complex, which at fence five appears quite early in the four-star track.

A big double of tables follows at fence eight, while the second water (12ab) is approached and exited by two imposing angles brushes. A log pile (22b) to barrel corner complex on two strides will need accurate riding, as will a bounce to a log to a hedge, two fences further on.

The event also hosts the first qualifying leg of the Horse Sport Ireland Eventing Challenge, which, running for the second year, is a bonus incentive scheme aimed to attract more overseas riders to home internationals. Confined to the new three-star level classes (formerly 2*), Australian rider Kevin McNab claimed the bonus in 2018.

Next week’s venue at Ballindenisk looks to be in super order, and the sport, which kicks off on Thursday, promises to be mighty.