THE World Team Championships kicked off in Millstreet, Co Cork, with a very colourful parade through the town of all the partaking teams. The local people came out in force to support all the competitors and the Millstreet pipe band lead the parade. The competition was officially opened by Professor Patrick Wall, chairman of Horse Sport Ireland.

Sixteen different nations took part. When the parade was over, the competitors, trainers and supporters made their way back to the Green Glens arena for a whiskey cocktail reception, compliments of Walsh’s whiskey, and were treated to a wonderful night of entertainment with traditional Irish music provided by Liam O’Connor.

U17 COMPETITION

On Wednesday the first heats of the championships started with the U17 competition. The Irish team got off to a strong start a with very good win in the first session. They followed-up with an equally good second session, putting them two points ahead of their nearest rivals, England.

At the end of day two, Ireland still held their lead and the second spot was held by France. With a comfortable lead going in to the last session, Ireland could afford to take things a little easier and came out of the final session with a very decent score of 185 points, which puts them into the A final in first place. They were followed by England, France, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Italy and the USA respectively.

New Zeland, Australia, Canada and South Africa made it into the B final.

In the first open session, Ireland got off to a shaky start scoring just 50 points.

They lay in sixth place overnight behind Germany, Belgium, England, France and Scotland. However, a better session on Thursday morning, followed by another good scoring session in the afternoon, saw them climb up the rankings to lie in fourth place overnight.

Friday got off to a rocky start with an elimination for Ireland, which was luckily overturned on appeal.

Despite mistakes, Ireland still managed to finish in joint-first place with Wales in this last session and claim a place in the A final along with France, England, Germany, Scotland, New Zeland, Wales and Belgium.

Northern Ireland will be first into the B final along with Italy, USA Norway, Denmark, Australia, South Africa and Canada.