MILLSTREET is pulling out all the stops once again, with the Green Glens Arena set for another busy year with no less than five high profile equestrian events taking place at the flagship Co Cork venue over the next eight months.

Preparations are at an advanced stage for the upcoming Millstreet International Welcome Tour (April 3rd - 7th). Now in its seventh year, the Welcome Tour has developed a reputation as an ideal show jumping season-opener, with over 75 events due to take place ranging from newcomer ponies up to CSI1* FEI classes, and competitors will travel from across Ireland looking to take home their share of the €25,000 prize fund on offer.

The Welcome Tour operates on a unique basis in that the rider does not need to decide what classes they will jump in at the time of entry. Instead, they pre-purchase a desired number of ‘starts’ which can then be used to declare for competitions before 5pm on the evening beforehand.

During the five days of competition, Millstreet will also cater for dressage and eventing enthusiasts with Combined Training classes taking place on Thursday, April 4th. Once again, there will be a number of qualification opportunities across the Welcome Tour, including places in the Millstreet Ruby (5YO) and Boomerang (6/7YO) finals at Millstreet International Horse Show. At pony level, places in August’s 138cm and 148cm Young Champion of Ireland Final will be on offer.

For the first time, bookings for the Welcome Tour are being handled using the entry system developed by Swedish equestrian data handlers ‘Equipe.’ Customers using Equipe to make entries for the first time will need to register a free online account where they can add details for horses and riders before completing the online entry form. These details will then be saved for future use. Online booking for the 2019 Millstreet International Welcome Tour will close on Friday, March 22nd next.

BUSY SCHEDULE

In July, Millstreet will open its doors to Mounted Games competitors and their connections from across Europe as the Duggan family welcome the IMGA European Team and Individual European Championships.

A fantastic fortnight of equestrian action will follow four weeks later as Millstreet International Horse Show and Horse Trials occupy their traditional dates on the calendar.

For the first time the Horse Trials will incorporate a leg of the Event Rider Masters series, and during the week ERM representatives Jim O’Toole, Martyn Johnson and Paul Tapner visited the site to discuss plans for the 2019 event.

The show jumping season at the Green Glens Arena will draw to a close at the end of October as the annual Owners, Pony and Young Riders Charity Show will round off another busy year for the Co. Cork venue.