Iverk dates

SAVE the date of Saturday, August 27th for the annual Iverk Show, Piltown, Co Kilkenny. The oldest agricultural show in the country, Iverk show is always a great family day out featuring a full range of agricultural and horse and pony classes. This year sees the return of the ladies’ side-saddle class while new is the ITM Racehorse to Riding Horse 2016 Supreme Championship final. Horse Sport Ireland is sponsoring a much improved working hunter championship.

The Rose of Iverk always draws a big entry for two-year-old fillies. Ponies complete for the Howley Trophy and AIB Cup. Other feature events include the Nissan 1.35m Grand Prix and the Horses 1.10m. Showing entries close on August 19th next for the €20,000 prize fund. Early online entries qualify for a special draw for €100.

Millstreet buzz

NOEL C. Duggan’s busy team of Tadhg Ryan, Louise Burke, Eimear Buckley, Emma Hickey, Caitriona Buckley and Keith Griffin did a great job during the hectic FEI European Championships.

With port problems in France, some of the lorries were not able to leave for their destinations for a few days, while Russian lorries were rerouted via Cherbourg due to visa issues.

One thing that all visitors to Millstreet noticed was the quality of the lorries in the car park. The Russian and Ukranian lorries in particular had everyone talking, complete with two storey decks, balconies, push out kitchens, dining rooms and golf buggy ramps.

Millstreet maestro

WITH the Millstreet International Horse Show CSI*** on next week, and thousands more people expected for the three-star horse trials in four weeks’ time, it was little wonder that renowned cross-country course builder, Mike Etherington-Smith was among those spotted at the Green Glens Arena last week.

Here’s Lucy...

LUCY Wiegersma, wife of Irish Rio eventer Padraig McCarthy, announced her equestrian comeback and has even picked out her horse for the Tokyo Olympics, a young home-bred five-year-old named Phil (aka MGH Devon Blue). “Phil doesn’t know it yet but Phil is going to go to the Tokyo Olympics...with me! I have been inspired by Padraig and Simon’s fairytale story to launch a comeback,” said Lucy. Phil, just riding six weeks, is having his first outing today. With approximately 1,440 riding days to Toyko, the pair are a little off four-star yet but stranger things have happened!