THE launch of a new international event is always an exciting prospect, and next week sees the inaugural running of the Lisgarvan International in Co Carlow. Hosted by the enthusiastic Corrigan family, the venue has staged popular national fixtures for many years, and for the last two has provided a fitting setting for the National Championships.

With an entry list that features stars like British Olympic gold medallist Laura Collett, and a plethora of fellow Olympians, the event promises to be a strong one. As an individual Olympic qualifying competition, it has attracted full squads from Brazil, Italy and Japan, as well as the usual strong contingent from Ireland.

The step from national level to international is a significant one, and reflecting on this, organiser Clive Corrigan commented: “It’s probably pure madness! But having staged the national championships, I wanted to grow and develop the track. This was the next big step, and one that I wanted to take. Another factor is the great support of the team of people behind me. It’s a real family affair consisting of ourselves, my brother Willie and his family, as well as Emma Redmond, Bridget Lawler and others.”

Others include local international rider Sam Watson, as well as Camphire stalwarts Paul and Allen Brady. The latter duo have thrown their weight behind the track design, and indeed have transported material from the much missed Co Waterford event. “Having learnt a lot from running Camphire, we wanted to recreate that ‘main arena’ feeling,” explained Paul Brady. “So, with that in mind, everything will be very central, with the stabling, the start and finish and the warm up all near to the main arena.”

Unlike Camphire however, the event will not have a trade/shopping village as such, but this is an area both the organisers and the Bradys are keen to grow. “We hope to develop this in time, but at the moment our priorities are to get the infrastructure and the courses right.” He added: “We have brought some fences over from Camphire, some from Tattersalls and we have made new fences with the best material available. We have great grass cover and very good ground. The crux of the whole thing however, is the Corrigan family – they have been brilliant and are the gem of it.”

As a predominately flat farm, Brady has been surprised at the number of undulations he discovered when mapping his courses. “I have tried to find as many as I could, and I think we have finished up with a nice balance of questions. As advisor, and because it is an Olympic qualification, Mike Etherington-Smith came over to cast his eye over it and was very happy with what we had done.”

Feature class

Brady also described how the main arena will also be the site of the two dressage arenas, which will provide two full days of dressage.

Looking at the competition proper, it is a little disappointing to note the scarcity of entries for the two long format classes. That said, this has become a normal feature at events generally, and it is gratifying to see that the Connolly’s Red Mills CCI4*-S boasts a very healthy start list of 44 runners. Among these, the Japanese rider Kazuma Tomoto looks to hold a strong hand with the Irish-bred Brookpark Vikenti, who was placed 10th at Pau CCI5* last season and runner-up in the Nations Cup class at Millstreet in June.

From Britain, Kirsty Chabert has become a regular and successful visitor to Irish events, and looks well mounted with Classic, Opposition Loire and Opposition Aphrodite. Never to be discounted, Laura Collet teams up with two less established individuals, while from Ireland any number of strong combinations could be in with a shout. Sian Coleman, Sarah Ennis, Joseph Murphy, Robbie Kearns and Sam Watson all carry good form, as do Clare Abbott, Ian Cassells and Suzanne Hagen.

There are two CCI2-S* sectors, one of which is devoted to six and seven-year-olds. This looks an intriguing class, and the one to beat has to be Coolnorran Cooley (Amanda Goldsbury), a six-year-old who has only been beaten once this season.

To complete the day, although not under the international banner, is the Pathway final for four-year-olds. All 30 starters will having attended training sessions, and this class should provide a fitting showcase for our young event horses.

Off track, the action will commence on Thursday evening, when the Corrigan family will host a welcome reception for owners, riders, sponsors and connections.