INTERNATIONAL action makes a welcome return to the flagship venues of Mullingar Equestrian Centre and Millstreet this June bank holiday weekend, injecting a much needed positive boost of top competition back into the Irish sport horse industry.

The Fagan and Duggan families have pulled out all the stops to stage the two international events, albeit behind closed doors this weekend.

Mullingar EC has been inundated with industry support amid huge entries for their five-day Mullingar International CSI2* Horse Show (June 3rd to June 7th).

Robert Fagan told The Irish Field yesterday (Friday): “Mullingar International Horse Show 2021 has enjoyed great support from everyone across the board to make it happen. We are delighted and it’s a fantastic boost for the industry.

“Moving the ISH Studbook classes to the Thursday and Friday is a massive success, allowing riders to concentrate on their young horses ahead of the international classes.

“From companies, individuals, Horse Sport Ireland, we have enjoyed great support. There has to be a realistion that we all have to work together. We had made the decision to keep the great prize money (€90,000) offered at this year’s Show with €25,000 going into the Mullingar Grand Prix as usual. The industry came behind us to support us and HSI matched that €25,000 for one of Sunday’s qualifier ranking classes. The Puissance Wall (250 bricks’ sponsorship of €100 per brick) proved a huge hit sell out, it’s almost full, just the very last few bricks to be sponsored.

“I think with what has happened with Covid and international travel is the realisation that we must develop – and all work together to develop – a proper circuit for the industry here at home. Riders should not have to keep going abroad and stay abroad to build up their ranking points. We produce the best riders in the world, we must have a proper circuit here for our industry,” said Robert Fagan.

Millstreet bubble

Hosting Millstreet International horse trials, the Duggan family is delighted to have an event at Millstreet for the first time since Covid-19 hit last March. Thomas Duggan commented: “It is our first event since Covid and is great to have everything mobilised again; you quickly remember what you forgot! Everyone is very content here, dressage is ongoing in the main arena.

“The British visitors are in their bubble and everyone is very cooperative. They are very appreciative of the permission they got to come and compete here. Things are different of course, we have asked people to stay on the grounds, the restaurant is open on a take-away basis, but we are just so pleased we got going and look forward to a great weekend!”

There will be full coverage of Millstreet and Mullingar in next week’s issue of The Irish Field