Six nationalities saddle up for horse trial glory
Up to 400 horses and their riders will converge on the north Cork venue as the event organisers, the Fell family, build on the event’s successful launch last year.
The feature class at the two-day equine extravaganza is the World Cup qualifier. Attracting the cream of Irish event riders and a strong foreign contingent, it boasts an increased prize fund of €20,000.
Highlighting its significance is the increased TV coverage for the event, which will see it screened on RTÉ, Sky Sports and Horse TV in the US.
The Irish Horse Board (IHB) is providing funds toward the production costs of TV coverage for Ballindenisk and four other events. IHB chairman Joe Walsh pointed to the success of the Irish horse in eventing and said he recognised the opportunity to promote the Irish horse.
“The Irish Sport Horse Stud Book has been at the top of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses Eventing rankings for the past 11 years,” the former agriculture minister said.
“As part of its role in the promotion of the Irish Sport Horse, the IHB sees this as a unique opportunity to showcase the remarkable ability of our horses to a worldwide audience.”
Ballindenisk is one of five international horse trials in Ireland this year, equalling the previous record. Its debut was a critical success, the icing on the cake coming with the triumph of Enniskeane man Neilius O’Donoghue on Balladeer Alfred, bred by another Enniskeane man, Declan Hurley.
The victors return this year, but O’Donoghue is playing down his chances, having only just returned to competition after breaking two vertebrae in his neck in a fall last September.
Others carrying the Cork flag in the feature class include Bandon rider Patricia Donegan.
Heinz Wehrli, an adopted Corkman having lived near Bantry for many years, will also line out, though his red and white colours will refer to his home country of Switzerland.
