IRISH eventing received a huge pre-Olympic boost at the Millstreet International Horse Trials, Co Cork, last weekend with a close-fought victory for Ireland in a competitive FEI Nations Cup™ leg and an assured victory for Sam Watson in the senior class, the Noel C Duggan Engineering CCI4*-L.

“It was a really tight competition which they won on the jumping,” said Ireland team manager Dag Albert, “but, most of all, they really wanted to win on home ground. They’re a good bunch of young riders who have come up through the system. We’ve got a bigger choice [for team selection] than normal and, to be honest, it’s a bit of a headache!”