THE 20th Northern Ireland Festival gets underway at 8am next Friday in all six rings at Cavan Equestrian Centre, where it will conclude when the supreme Festival working hunter champions are crowned in the Gold Ring on Sunday night.

By close of play, the 20-plus panel of British judges will have assessed those taking part in over 170 classes and 55 championships. Over 2,200 entries had been received in time for inclusion in the catalogue by the April 5th deadline. Late online entries can be made up to midnight tomorrow, Sunday, April 26th, while they will be accepted at the show if class numbers allow.