CONGRATULATIONS to the Irish show jumping team of Niamh McEvoy, Susan Fitzpatrick, Max Wachman and Ethen Ahearne who were voted The Irish Field/Gain Equine Nutrition November Star of the Month after winning the Nations Cup at Vejer de la Frontera, led by chef d’equipe Taylor Vard.

Aoife Bird RIP

THE Irish Field extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Aoife Bird (née Oates) and baby Ailbhe who passed away on November 25th following a sudden illness, surrounded by her heartbroken family at the Regional Hospital Mullingar. Aoife was a talented and valued member of the Irish equestrian community for many years. A former member of the Waterford Hunt Pony Club, they led the tributes saying: “Aoife loved sport and former WHPC members remember her as a fantastic show jumper and equine enthusiast.”

Aoife is sadly missed by her loving husband Jim and baby boy Daithí, her devastated parents Peter and Margaret, sisters Siobhan, Aisling and Róisín and brother Shane, mother-in-law Veronica, grandparents Micheal and Kathleen, aunts, uncles, and the wider Bird, Oates and Freeman families, plus all Aoife’s heartbroken friends and colleagues in Ashbourne Community School where she was a teacher.

Eventing Ireland dates published

DATES and venues for the 2026 Eventing Ireland season have been published on their website. The season kicks off at Barnadown in Co Wexford on March 8th 2026, followed by the first Northern Region event at Tyrella on March 21st. The Northern Region have announced two new events at Island Lodge (Templepatrick) on August 29th and Moyallen (Portadown) on September 12th. The season is set to conclude again at Barnadown on October 3rd. The full schedule can be viewed on www.eventingireland.com.

AIRC register of instructors

APPLICATIONS are now open for the 2026 Association of Irish Riding Clubs (AIRC) Register of Instructors. Instructors who apply to be included on the register will be covered by AIRC insurance while instructing at any AIRC training activity. At present, AIRC-affiliated clubs must ensure that any instructor or trainer engaged to train AIRC members at a club activity holds a recognised qualification or has suitable experience in accordance with Rule 5, has their own insurance, is Garda vetted and has completed a safeguarding course. Once an instructor is listed on the AIRC Register of Instructors, clubs no longer need to carry out the above checks, as all qualifications, insurance, vetting, and safeguarding requirements will already have been verified by AIRC.

Instructors are required to register annually and can apply online at www.airc.ie/instructors. An annual fee of €40 applies to cover administrative and insurance costs.

Treo Eile Christmas Show

THE Treo Eile Christmas Show is almost here. Join top trainers, jockeys and rising pony stars at Emerald Equestrian Centre on Thursday, December 11th for an action-packed day celebrating Ireland’s retrained racehorses. Highlights include the HRI Treo Eile Thoroughbred Classic, a training demo with Olympian Sam Watson, and full live coverage on Horse & Country TV. Tickets are selling fast and cost €15 per person; €40 family ticket (two adults, two children) or €100 for a 10-ticket bundle. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.