ENTRIES close at 6pm on Wednesday next, June 5th, for the fifth Sports Pony Challenge qualifier which had been scheduled for late May in Maryville, Co Cork but will now take place on Saturday, June 8th at Boswell, Ashford, Co Wicklow.

In addition to giving owners and riders another opportunity to qualify for the final at the Mullingar Equestrian Centre on Thursday, June 27th, the new date will allow those who have applied to be considered for the European working hunter pony championships teams, and who haven’t been competing regularly, the chance to be assessed by the selectors.

The European championships take place at the David Broome Event Centre in south Wales from Sunday to Tuesday, August 4th to 6th, immediately before the Dublin Horse Show.