Preparations are at an advanced stage for the 2017 Fernhill Sport Horses Kilguilkey House International Horse Trials which take place near Mallow in Co. Cork from 30th June to 2nd July. Now in its fifth year, hosts Danny and Michelle Dulohery have pulled out all the stops and 2017 promises world-class competition at CIC3, 2 and 1 star level.

Mike Etherington-Smith (GBR), Course Designer with Danny Dulohery, Event Director/Course Designer

Following last year’s successful upgrade to 3 star level, renowned Olympic and Championship course designer Mike Etherington-Smith (GBR) has returned and delivered a few new questions for competitors in the HAYGAIN CIC3* class. Competition is likely to be intense in the TopSpec CIC2*, Global Event Horses CIC1* and Eventing Ireland CIC* (Ponies) classes where Danny Dulohery has designed cross country courses that will offer an ideal stepping stone towards the various upcoming FEI European Eventing Championships.

In a new venture for 2017, the Kilguilkey House Derby Arena will play host to Young Event Horse and Derby Classes on Sunday 2nd July. Classes for Four and Five Year Old horses will see competitors show all 3 paces on both reins in front of selected judges before proceeding to jump a track comprising 16 jumping efforts including water, ditches and banks. The action will turn up a notch in the Open class which is aimed towards Junior and Senior Riders who have competed in at least 1 Eventing Ireland National Event, TRY Event or RDS Irish Draught or Connemara Performance Qualifier. Here, time will be the deciding factor ahead of the prize giving for all 3 classes during the International Prize Giving at the end of the day.

Entries for the Fernhill Sport Horses Kilguilkey International Horse Trials are being accepted through www.eventingireland.com ahead of the closing date on 16th June.