MAKING the big move after 12 years at Stradbally Hall, Co Laois, to Mullingar Equestrian Centre this weekend is the hugely popular AIRC Riding Clubs Festival.

The two-day Riding Clubs Festival follows hot on the heels of the Mullingar International CSI2* which was a resounding success for Robert Fagan and his family at the Co Westmeath venue over the June bank holiday weekend.

The two-day Riding Clubs Festival, is set to be one of the biggest with just under 1,800 entries across 70 classes in dressage, show jumping, showing and working hunter held over Saturday and Sunday, June 9th and 10th.

There will be plenty to see and do and all the warm-up facilities and stabling at Mullingar will come into its own for the event.

There are four main championships on offer in the Horse Sport Ireland showing rings this year, while a team representing the British Riding Clubs will compete in the feature TRI Equestrian Team Show Jumping Challenge.

The dressage programme includes The Irish Field Team Dressage Challenge along with competitions in dressage to music, long arena, musical ride and prix caprilli.

Asides from the huge number of competitions on offer, there will be a trade village with a variety of exhibitors while the social programme of events has given a boost with many new additions.

Tony’s Table Quiz will take place on the Friday night while each region will battle it out for the Glitterball Trophy in a fun talent show on Saturday night which will be followed by a disco.

There will be a free yoga session on Sunday morning with thanks to Physiofit Nenagh while the dog show returns this year on the Sunday with seven classes on offer with thanks to Centrepiece Rosettes and Feedwell Dog Foods with all monies raised going to the very worthy Irish Blue Cross.

SPONSORSHIP

The three main sponsors of the festival – The Irish Field, Horse Sport Ireland and TRI Equestrian – are all on board once again.

Leo Powell, managing editor of The Irish Field, which sponsors the dressage, said: “2018 represents the seventh year of sponsorship at the Riding Clubs Festival by The Irish Field. We have never wavered in our support for the event, as it typifies all that is best about grassroots equestrianism. The camaraderie as well as the competition at the event makes it very special and, together with a new location in the excellent Mullingar Equestrian Centre, I believe this year’s renewal will be the best yet.”

TRI Equestrian’s managing director Philip Masterson said: “TRI Equestrian are very pleased to continue our support of show jumping at the AIRC Festival. The Riding Club network provides such a valuable platform for thousands of riders across the country we are delighted to be able to support this prestigious event. Our longstanding relationship with the AIRC is of huge importance to us and we look forward to meeting and supporting our customers at Mullingar next weekend.”

Meanwhile, Horse Sport Ireland’s Director of Breeding and Programmes, Alison Corbally, said: “Once again we are delighted to be sponsoring the Irish Draught and Connemara performance and showing classes at the annual Riding Clubs Festival. We are delighted to see a consistent number of Irish Draughts coming out to compete at this level and the increase of entries in the Connemara classes shows great support for our native breeds. We look forward to yet another fantastic event.”

Association of Irish Riding Clubs chairman, Tony Ennis said: “I would like to thank Thomas Cosby for having us on his estate since 2006. We have almost 100 clubs attending with some 800 horses competing over two days and I want to thank our loyal sponsors for their support.”