WORLD class eventing returns to Co Cork next week, where the team at Ballindenisk are due to host the country’s sixth and final international fixture of the current campaign.

Attracting a sizeable overseas entry, especially in the traditionally hard to fill long format classes, there are riders from seven visiting nations, including a variety of senior internationals from Britain and Japan, as well as from New Zealand, Italy, Switzerland, Finland, Morocco and USA.

Standing out among them, top British rider Izzy Taylor makes a welcome return to the sport following injury, while her compatriots Emily King and Sam Ecroyd make the journey with a string of in-form performers.

Japanese Olympian Kazuma Tomoto and Kiwi international Caroline Powell have also travelled from their UK bases, as has regular Italian visitor Alberto Guigni.

Fired with anticipation, organiser Peter Fell is naturally upbeat. “We’re delighted with the huge entry, and especially pleased to see the long format classes so well filled,” he remarked. “We have a good mix of riders, and we’re really looking forward to the weekend. Obviously, we are hoping the weather will stay reasonable, but that said, we have had a great preparation and the ground is good.”

Surprises

Fell went on to reveal that he has a few surprises up his sleeve for this year’s tracks.

“We have introduced around 41 new fences spread over the four separate tracks,” he revealed. “The cross-country start area has been moved to the south side of the farm, near to the ringfort, and we have made a huge effort to ring the changes.”

Fell also commented that all tracks will be galloping ones, with his sister-in-law, and top British designer Helen West, in charge of the four-star features. Co Wicklow man Dereck Hamilton will be at the helm of the three-star courses, while Ray Doyle has charted the two-star leaving Fell himself to manage the remaining one-star tracks.

“There will be plenty of differences, and a few fences with surprises that will really need jumping. We hope everyone will enjoy it!” Fell added.

Away from the live action, Fell will be catering for owners, sponsors and riders in the pavilion overlooking the main arena, and has not forgotten any Rugby World Cup enthusiasts either. In keeping with the strong sporting ethos, the crucial Ireland v South Africa match will be screened live in the restaurant on Saturday evening, and with South African TD Rob Ramsden and his wife Charlene in attendance, the evening is sure to be lively.

Intriguing

Back to the competition proper, the feature NutriScience CCI4*-L looks likely to be an intriguing affair. It has a very open field, but from an Irish perspective, Suzanne Hagan and OBOS Take One, who are making their debut at the level, look ripe for promotion having been placed fifth in their last two internationals at the short format distance.

Another interesting combination will be Georgie Goss riding the former Georgie Spence four-star rider Jaloupe. Goss, who has recently taken Irish nationality, has gelled well with the Dutch-bred mare and will one to watch on her first ride in green.

Course and distance winners Darragh Byrne and Kilcannon Ramiro will join Sarah Ennis (Action Lady M), Ian Cassells (Kellys Quality) and Esib Power (Greenfort Gorgeous George) as ones to watch, but they will face strong opposition from Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto, who poses a three-pronged challenge with Brookpark Vikenti, the Lisgarvan short format runner-up Vinci de la Vigne and By Design JRA.

High-class field

NutriScience also lend their name to a competitive CCI4*-S, which features a high-class field of 19 runners. Immediately catching the eye as possible favourites is New Zealander Caroline Powell with her experienced five-star campaigner Greenacres Special Cavalier.

The Irish-bred son of Cavalier Royale was placed fifth in Pau (CCI5*-L) last year and could face his strongest competition from Clare Abbott who teams up with her recent Lisgarvan CCI3* winner Jewelent.

Fresh from a break following the European championships, Sarah Ennis’s cross-country hero Grantstown Jackson makes his return to competition, while others in with a shout could be new national 1.20m champions Robbie Kearns (Ballyvillane OBOS) and also Joseph Murphy with Barricello.

International classes aside, the event also hosts a full range of long and short format classes, while completing the bill will be the coveted Michael Leonard championship for five-and six-year-olds (CCI-Intro*).

Due to space constraints, the rest of the entries can be viewed online.