The 27th annual Riding Clubs Festival which takes place in just two weeks’ time will be one of the biggest in recent years.
Entries are up almost 7% to just under 2,000 for this years show on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th June and has grown to become one of Irelands biggest amateur equestrian events with over 70 classes in dressage, show jumping, showing and working hunter.
A team representing the British Riding Clubs will also compete at the show in the feature TRI Equestrian Team Show Jumping Challenge while a larger field will contest The Irish Field Team Dressage Challenge. There are also four main championships on offer in the showing rings.
Asides from the competition element, there is a trade village with a variety of exhibitors while there is also a sociable friendly side to the show with entertainment on Saturday evening and a dog show on Sunday.
Asides from this, the three main sponsors of the two-day show have reaffirmed their commitment to the event.
TRI Equestrians managing director Philip Masterson said, “TRI Equestrian and sister company TRM are deeply committed to supporting Irish riders from grassroots to elite level. It has been our pleasure to sponsor show jumping at the AIRC festival for many years now and we are very much looking forward to again being part of such an amazing event.”
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The Irish Fields managing editor, Leo Powell, who sponsors the dressage, said, “The Irish Field’s involvement with the AIRC festival in Stradbally is a delight. This event is at the grassroots of the equestrian world and the festival is a celebration of Irish horsemen and women, competing but in an atmosphere of great fun and enjoyment. It is an event that I look forward to each year.”
Meanwhile, Horse Sport Ireland Director of Breeding & Programmes, Alison Corbally, said; “Once again we are delighted to be sponsoring the Irish Draught and Connemara performance and showing classes in the annual Riding Clubs festival. We are pleased to see an increase of Irish Draughts competing at this level and we look forward to a fantastic event.”
Association of Irish Riding Clubs chairman, Tony Ennis said, “Our festival is our flagship event each year and it is fantastic to see it grow like this. This year we will have 100 clubs attending with almost 800 horses competing over the two days.”
“Without the support of our three loyal sponsors, it would be impossible to stage this event and I thank them graciously for their continued support on behalf of all of our members,” he added.
