FRESH from hosting the hugely successful FEI European Championships, the Green Glens Arena is getting ready to host the 2016 Millstreet International Horse Show CSI*** next week (August 9th-14th).

On course for their biggest entry ever, close to 7,000 entries have already been processed by the office team and the 1,300 on-site stables will be fully occupied for the six-day show with over 200 horseboxes and caravans booked in.

This year’s competition schedule is packed with 105 classes, with a total prize fund of almost €200,000 on offer.

With eight international classes, including three Longines ranking classes, the €50,000 Noel C. Duggan Engineering Millstreet International Grand Prix is the main highlight, taking place next Sunday, August 14th, with eight nations represented on the entry list.

The home team features many of Ireland’s top performing show jumpers, including six of the top 10 riders in the latest Showjumping Ireland rider rankings. Horseware/TRM Premier Grand Prix 2016 contenders Francis Connors, Alexander Butler and Capt. Geoff Curran will be making their way to the Green Glens Arena, along with National Grand Prix league topper Vincent Byrne and Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour winner Liam O’Meara.

Once again, a strong British contingent will be making the journey. Fresh from her win in the CSIO***** Dinard Derby, Britain’s Laura Renwick is likely to feature prominently in the results, and Mullingar International Grand Prix winner Sophie Dalm is also a firm favourite. Ellen and Joe Whitaker are set to make a welcome return to Millstreet, while Louise Saywell and Pippa Allen will be hoping to grab some local knowledge from their siblings Jake and Millie, who formed part of the British Young Rider team at the FEI European Jumping Championships last weekend. Riders from nations including Australia, Canada, Austria, Spain, Sweden and the USA will also be hoping to take home their share of the spoils.

The action at Millstreet gets underway on Tuesday, August 9th with the first qualifier for the prestigious Irish Farmer’s Journal National Discovery Final. Millstreet’s commitment to supporting the Irish equestrian industry continues, with a strong entry received for young horse classes including the Boomerang, Young Irelander and Millstreet Ruby. Many of the best equestrian producers in the country are represented in the Irish Farmer’s Journal Young Irelander Final for three-year-old horses. Qualifiers were held at Millstreet, Mullingar, Newcastlewest, Clare and the West Cork Breeders Show. Those qualified will now compete on Thursday, August 11th, with 20 going through to Friday night’s prestigious final. Former Olympic showjumper Roland Ferneyhough will be on hand along with Tony Newbery and Mike Florence to judge the winners of all the special classes.

A relatively new addition to the schedule is the Two-Year-Old Futurity Final. Now in its third year, Horse Sport Ireland has come on board to support the class through its Breeding Fund and all eyes will be on the Main Indoor Arena on Friday, August 12th to see future showjumping stars exhibited under lights for the first time.

Elsewhere, the Millstreet Foal Sale will take place in the Main Indoor Arena on Saturday, August 13th, immediately before the National Discovery (four-year-old) Final. In addition to the well-established Ruby (five-year-old) and Boomerang (six/seven-year-old) classes, the Millstreet schedule for 2016 also includes a 1.20m Mares’ Championship with record entries received for this year’s class.

The Millstreet Horse Show Organising Committee continues to support younger riders, who are catered for with a host of pony classes. After its successful introduction during the FEI European Championships for Ponies in 2014, the Young Champion of Ireland competition is becoming an important class in the Millstreet schedule. With the generous support of Coolmore Stud, the Young Champion of Ireland Final will see competitors at 128cms, 138cms and 148cms level battle for the chance to experience a once in a lifetime trip for three to the London International Horse Show (Olympia) in December, including transport, accommodation and the chance to meet top riders. Young Riders will once again have the opportunity to win a training bursary with Irish Olympic Showjumper Billy Twomey through the Hitchmough Bursary, which will be decided on Sunday in the Main International Arena.

Visitors to Millstreet International Horse Show 2016 will notice a range of developments. Established equestrian scoring provider Equipe will provide real-time start lists and results for every arena – their first time to do so in Ireland. With viewing audiences of over 75,000 in 2015, popular equestrian live-streaming provider ClipMyHorse.tv will return to Millstreet; providing live and on-demand coverage of the feature international and young horse classes.

To enjoy a family day out with free admission, world-class showjumping, a wide range of trade exhibitors (including saddlery, leisurewear and footwear, pet accessories and more) then come along to the Millstreet International Horse Show 2016.

Further information is available on www.millstreethorseshow.ie.