With a confirmed total of 368, Ireland this year will see the biggest ever number of entries for the famous Tattersalls International Horse Trials outside Ratoath in Co Meath.
The competitors, from a record 16 countries taking part in this 13th event, include Olympic gold, silver and bronze medallists, World Champions and World medal winners, as well as 22 Olympians, and the competition is predicted to attract television and online viewers from over 120 countries, as it did last year.
The event, which runs from 30th May – 3rd June, will be closely watched and assessed by many experts and team managers with an eye toward qualification for the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina this September and then onward to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
Tatts Event Co-ordinator Joanne Quirke said: “No other sporting event in Ireland this year will have as many Olympic Champions and medallists, World Champions, World medallists and existing Olympians in the one venue at the same event.
“Some of the greatest riders of our time will be competing, like Olympic Champions Blyth Tait, William Fox-Pitt, Grand Slam winner Pippa Funnell, seven-time Olympian Andrew Hoy, six-time Olympian Mary King as well as other international superstars like World No.1 Oliver Townend, Harry Meade, Piggy French and Tim Price.
“Some of our best Irish riders and Olympians have entered, including Jonty Evans, Camilla Speirs, Capt Geoff Curran and Austin O’Connor, along with other current stars like Sam Watson and Michael Ryan.”
-Jack Burns