Thomas Carlile (FRA) and Upsilon at Millstreet FEI Eventing Nations Cup (IRE) in 2018
The Millstreet International Horse Trials, set to take place in Co. Cork, Ireland from 2nd – 4th June will not only host the third leg of the 2023 FEI Eventing Nations Cup but will also offer a valuable eventing qualification opportunity for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
The FEI Eventing Nations Cup leg will be part of the CCI4*-S competition and is expected to attract a strong international entry, as the country with the highest points from the entire 2023 Nations Cup Series (excluding those already qualified) will qualify for Paris.
In addition, there will also be at Millstreet a separate CCI3*-L competition, which will also be a team competition and will act as an Olympic qualifier for Group Nations F (Africa and the Middle East) and G (South East Asia and Oceania).
As Australia is yet to qualify a team for Paris 2024, this will be an important opportunity for qualification, as discussed with Shane Rose and Shenae Lowings at Adelaide Equestrian Festival, two competitors who will be making their way to Europe from their Australian base in the hope of being part of the team at Millstreet
Millstreet has previously hosted Young Rider, Junior and Pony European Championships and this will be the second time that the FEI Eventing Nations Cup has been run here; in 2018, it provided a test venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic eventing format and saw a strong French team come out on top. Thomas Carlile and his recently deceased stallion Upsilon completed on a record finishing score of 17.3, which still remains intact.
The Duggan family's Great Glens Arena in Millstreet is well-known for its friendly atmosphere, excellent facilities and top-quality cross-country courses designed by Mike Etherington-Smith and Paul Brady that run through the beautiful parkland of Drishane Castle. There will be 12 classes of eventing, including the four- and five-year-old National Eventing Discovery classes which are a showpiece for Ireland's most exciting young horses, and a prize fund of nearly €40,000.
The Duggan family have long been steeped in the Irish equestrian world, producing top-class competition horses and hosting international competitions. They are currently providing accommodation to some 300 Ukrainian refugees.
"Millstreet is now well established as the place to see the international stars of the present and future and we enjoy giving them a warm Irish welcome," said event director Thomas Duggan.
The second leg of the 2023 FEI Nations Cup will take place at Chatsworth International Horse Trials on 13th & 14th May
