Frankfort ODE cancelled

THE start of the Eventing Ireland season in the south of Ireland has been delayed again following the forced cancellation of Frankfort Stud tomorrow (Sunday) following heavy rain this week.

The venue was also forced to cancel their first scheduled event on March 19th last. All entries fees, less administration fee, will be refunded to the credit card from which payment was paid.

Dressage Winter Finals

DRESSAGE Ireland is holding its National Winter Finals this weekend at Castle Irvine, Necarne, where the action commences at 9am both days in three of the four arenas. Trailblazers compete on Saturday only when the first rider is due to start indoors at 2pm.

Most of the judges officiating are listed with British Dressage but they are being backed up by four from the DI list. That latter quartet includes DI board member Mark Ruddock (List 1) who will also be commentating on the finals throughout the weekend along with Sean Burgess. Locally-based timber company BALCAS is providing sponsorship as are SVS Equine, Dunmore Gardens, Treo Eile, Freedom Saddlery, Para Equestrian Ireland and all seven DI regions.

Louth Hunter Trials

THE Louth Hunt is holding its hunter trials at Tattersalls Farm, Ratoath, tomorrow, Sunday, April 2nd. There will be the usual competitions of Open Singles, Open Pairs, Novice Singles, Novice Pairs, backed up by classes for Pre Novice-Singles and Pre Novice-Pairs.

The competition should prove an excellent warm up for the Connolly’s Red Mills/Irish Pony Club one day event league which will begin in Wexford at the end May and for the Eventing Ireland competitions throughout the country. For further information, email Marnie Crerar at marniecrerar@gmail.com or facebook.com/louthhuntertrials.

Case adjourned

A CASE against five men, charged with alleged equine identification tampering in slaughter horses, was adjourned on Monday to April 24th next at Kilkenny District Court.

Rising Stars series

THE Mullingar Rising Stars Young Horse Series 2023 continues next Friday, April 7th at Mullingar Equestrian Centre. It is a series for four, five and six/seven-year-old horses which will allow producers to develop their young horses in a less intense environment, affording them more time to reach their full potential.

There will be 20 qualifiers at venues around the country with the finals, incorporating a prize fund of €12,000, held at Mullingar from August 4th to 6th. From April 25th onwards, qualifiers will be live streamed. The series is sponsored by Gerry Mullins and Jimmy Doyle.

Badminton and Kentucky entries

THERE are four Irish riders entered for the 2023 Badminton Horse Trials, taking place from May 4th to 8th. They are Susie Berry with Ringwood LB, Padraig McCarthy and Noble Call, Austin O’Connor with Colorado Blue and Michael Ryan with TR Kaygraff. Heading the list is defending champion Laura Collett for Britain with the 14-year-old London 52. Meanwhile, there will be no Irish entry at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day-Event from April 27th to 30th. Heading the entries list there is current British world champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir, who were second at the event last year.