AIRC 2026 dates released
THE Association of Irish Riding Clubs and Dressage Ireland got the jump on other governing bodies this week by publishing the dates and venues of the majority of their national championships for 2026.
The AIRC national hunter trials will take place at Nuenna Farm on April 12th while the Mullingar Equestrian Centre will host the annual two-day Festival (June 6th and 7th), all individual show jumping championships plus the RC70/RC80 team championship (July 19th) and the dressage championships (August 30th).
The team show jumping championships will once again take place on the Sunday of the Dublin Horse Show (August 9th), but a date and venue have yet to be confirmed for the national eventing championships.
Dressage Ireland are replacing the national winter finals with a new inter Regional final, which will be held at Ballindenisk on April 18th. Next year, the youth and senior national championships will run back-to-back at Castle Irvine, Necarne (August 12th and 13th, followed by August 14th to 16th).
Upcoming young breeder training
YOUNG breeder training for those aged 15 to 30 years of age takes place on October 19th at Barry O’Connor Show jumping, Malahide, Co Dublin, followed by November 1st at Garryrichard Stud (Hickey family), Foulksmills, Co Wexford. Both are excellent farms with high quality sport horses to view and discuss. The focus will be conformation and athleticism assessment. The National and World Championships are approaching in 2026 and those born from 2000 to 2010 will be eligible to partake. Now is the time to build familiarity, or refresh knowledge in preparation. Those who wish to attend purely for the learning without follow through to competition are also welcome. To book, visit teagasc.clr.events. This programme is being provided by Teagasc.
Inaugural timed auction
FOR the first time in its history, the Connemara Pony Sales in Clifden is hosting an online timed auction. The auction began on Friday and runs until Monday. The pony selected for this is Callowfeenish PJ, who was bought as a five-year-old in the Connemara Pony Sales in 2018 and has gone on to have much international success with Italian rider Giorgio Marini. This includes Nations Cup appearances in Compiègne, Busto Arsizio and Zuidwolde this year, as well as a strong showing at the Pony European Championships in Le Mans and the CSIO Youth Finals in Lier where he won a gold medal with team Italy in the Challenge Cup. The auction can be followed on the Mart Eye app.
Pony club events
THE first leg of the 2025 Jumps Ahead league at Ballindenisk takes place tomorrow. The league continues on October 26th and November 9th with the final scheduled for November 16th. Entries close the previous Thursday. The league runs across all four dates, while participation at two qualifiers allows entry to the final.
Entries close at 6pm on Friday, October 24th for a mini one-day event for IPC members being run by the Leitrim Branch at the Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre in Co Galway on Bank Holiday Monday, October 27th. Classes will range from 50cm to 90cm. This is a fundraiser for the Irish Cancer Society.
Alleged human clean sport violation
HORSE Sport Ireland (HSI), has been notified of an alleged human clean sport violation concerning an Irish show jumping athlete. HSI said the matter is being managed by the International Testing Agency on behalf of the FEI, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. “Both the athlete and Horse Sport Ireland have been engaging fully since the issue was brought to their attention,” it said. “As the case is ongoing, HSI will not be making any further comment on the specific details.”