The 31st running of the AIRC Riding Clubs Festival takes place at Mullingar Equestrian Centre on the 10th & 11th June with entries up over 20% across 70 classes in dressage, show jumping, showing and working hunter.
Over 600 riders, representing almost 90 clubs from around the country, will line out at the Co. Westmeath venue over the two days of competition.
The Irish Field sponsored dressage programme has a number of changes with a new team format, with teams of 3 riders competing together. The Prix Caprilli classes have be reintroduced along with the Fancy Dress Pairs. All dressage will take place on sand surfaces with entries up 11% on last year.
The TRI Equestrian sponsored show jumping highlights include the wild card qualifier for the Dublin Horse Show along with other team events and individual competitions including power and speed, table a speed, young horse and clear round jumping. Two new classes – RC 70 Open and RC 90 Open – have been added to the schedule attracting 100 entries between them.
The Horse Sport Ireland showing programme saw some of the biggest changes but the four main championships remain unchanged. The working hunter championship has been revised to include a TIH categories along with sections for thoroughbred, connemara’s and irish draughts. The Handy Horse classes have also been reintroduced.
The three main sponsors of the AIRC’s flagship event have committed to the show which marks its 31st anniversary this year.
Happy to be back at the helm, TRI Equestrian’s Philip Masterson said, “TRI Equestrian are on board and dedicated to supporting the AIRC Riding Clubs Festival. As the leading equestrian store in Ireland, we receive enormous support from the AIRC club members and we know how much the Festival means to everyone involved. For this reason, the dedication that the competitors put in every day to the care and well-being of their horses need to be celebrated. With this in mind, we are excited to be the title sponsors for the show jumping at this year’s AIRC Riding Clubs Festival.”
In line with the past festivals, our staff and competing staff members will be on hand for presentations of prizes. In addition to this we want to add a little extra, for this reason we will be onsite on Sunday 11th June with our faithful carrot stand and the TRI Equestrian van bursting with raffle prizes for our free draws being drawn throughout the day.
The Irish Fields managing editor, Leo Powell, who sponsor the dressage, said, “As President of the Association I could well be accused of bias, but for almost two decades now I have been a firm believer in the power and positive nature of this wonderful organisation. To that end, it has always been a ‘no-brainer’ for the team at The Irish Field to support AIRC and to sponsor the dressage at the Festival. We are happy to do so again this year, and love that the weekend has found such a good home at the Fagan’s Mullingar Equestrian Centre.”
Horse Sport Ireland’s Head of Breeding, Development and Innovation, Sonja Egan, said: “Horse Sport Ireland was delighted with the success of last year’s Festival, after its return, and is just as pleased to be supporting again in 2023.
“This is undoubtedly a highlight of the calendar for the almost 3,500 members registered to the 120+ clubs affiliated to the AIRC. I would like to wish the AIRC and all of the breeders, producers, and competitors the very best of luck.”
“Horse Sport Ireland would like to thank the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for providing the support to the Festival through the Breeding Grant Initiative and National Breeding Services,” she added.
Association of Irish Riding Clubs chairman, Tony Ennis said, “It’s fantastic to see entries return to pre-pandemic levels after we introduced a number of changes to the programme. This year’s show will see over 600 riders and horses taking part from 86 of our affiliated clubs from around the country. I also want to thank our key loyal sponsors for their continued commitment to our flagship show.”
