ATHLETES representing 10 nations will descend on the Fell family’s Watergrasshill venue next week for the Ballindenisk Autumn International. Featuring classes from EI105 level to CCI4*-L, the action will begin with the trot-ups for the long format classes on the afternoon of Wednesday September 23rd. Cross-country will take place on both Saturday and Sunday, with the action concluding on the evening of September 27th.

There are just nine combinations on the start list of the Nutriscience Equine CCI4*-L, where, fresh from winning the team gold medal at the FEI Eventing World Championships, Tom McEwen will ride the Irish Sport Horse Class Romance on his debut at this level. Irish-based British rider Tara Dixon will be double-handed with her five-star campaigner Master Smart and his younger stablemate Global Narco, who finished eighth in this class at last year’s fixture. Meghan Healy and Rosie Alcorn will fly the flag for the host nation riding Overis Cavalier and Chrysanthos respectively.

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The Nutriscience Equine CCI3*-L is better subscribed, with 18 combinations set to start. Among them are Carla Williamson and Powers, whose last run saw them finish 10th individually at the Junior European eventing championships. Caroline Powell brings a brace of Irish Sport Horses in Greenacres Special Touch, who won a class at this level at Lisgarvan House International Horse Trials last year, and Rathnageera River, who has jumped double clear but for cross-country time faults on both his most recent runs at Ballindenisk.

Another recent youth championship participant features on the start list of the CCI2*-L, with Anna Radford set to ride her double pony European silver medallist Essenar Double Dutch. English raiders here include Tom McEwen, this time riding GHS Diamanta, and Izzy Taylor with Ninian Park, while Nicky Roncoroni will ride her Millstreet CCI1*-Intro winner Carrigshawn Ebony.

Like the equivalent long format section, the Goresbridge Horse Sales CCI4*-S will see just 10 combinations take part, but among them is the legendary Galileo Niewmoed. Ridden by David Doel, the 15-year-old has the distinction of having completed all six of the northern hemisphere five-star events, and has earned seven top-ten finishes at the level. Recent Cornbury winner Ben Connors will ride his Young Rider European championship partner Zuperlative in this class, on the horse’s debut at the level.

Doel also has two rides in the TRM CCI3*-S in Pulpit Rock and Miss Morning Star BB, while his busy compatriot Izzy Taylor has three with One True Barrington, PSH Serenade and Bayaanat. Alison Holden is entered with Lates Eddie, on whom she finished third in a CCI2*-S at Millstreet, as is Nicola Ennis with her recent Kilguilkey winner Devils Cape.

The Aloga CCI2*-S will see the biggest field at Ballindenisk, and in it Ian Cassells will ride MGH Rioja for Tom McCarthy, on whom he won the long format equivalent last time out at Millstreet. New Zealand’s Caroline Powell will provide Cassells with some competition in the form of WLS Ravenscourt. A half-brother of the two Gwen Kinsella-bred Irish Sport Horses who each earned podium placings at the recent Burghley Young Event Horse championship, this horse finished fourth there as a five-year-old last season.

Ballindenisk will once again host the Irish EBF Thoroughbred Challenge presented by Treo Eile, which will be contested by nine combinations, and the prestigious Michael Leonard EI105 class for five and six-year-olds.

Sarah Ennis rides PJ Hegarty’s homebred Fenya’s Email in the latter, this combination having won the George Mernagh EI110 for six-year-olds on their last outing. A national EI105 class and the CCIP2*-S complete the programme of events.