MORE THAN 100,000 people attended the Dublin Horse Show which closed at the RDS last night after its five-day run.
RDS chief executive Michael Duffy said the organisers were very pleased with the 139th show which drew particularly large crowds on Friday and Saturday. Attendances on the first day were dampened by rain but Mr Duffy said the first day was traditionally an equestrian day and spectators were usually friends and family of competitors.
Entries in the showjumping and showing classes were up by 11 per cent, he said, and recently introduced classes were very well supported.
Spectators attending Friday’s event were rewarded with a win for Ireland in the FEI Nations Cup. It was the first time in eight years that the Irish team lifted the Aga Khan trophy.
Mr Duffy said it was a very successful show for Irish competitors. Last night, Co Down’s Dermott Lennon was named the leading international rider at the event, as well as leading Irish rider.
On Saturday he narrowly beat Switzerland’s Olympic gold medallist Steve Guerdat to the €7,500 first prize in the Dublin Stakes.
Later that day, Irish riders Michael Hutchinson and Liam O’Meara shared first place in the Land Rover Puissance with Italy’s Juan Carlos Garcia.
Yesterday, Olympic bronze medallist Cian O’Connor, riding Blue Loyd 12, took third place in the climax of the show – the Longines Grand Prix. Irish riders claimed four other places in the top 10, but the competition was won by Germany’s Carsten-Otto Nagel while the runner-up was French rider Kevin Staut.
Yesterday was family day at the RDS as children queued for pony rides and were entertained by Billy Bubbles and Johnny D Juggler. The Pony Club Games drew a large crowd.
Saturday’s Racehorse to Riding Horse Class was also very popular with spectators. The class was introduced to show how retired racehorses can adapt to another discipline, once they hang up their racing plates. The class also gave fans an opportunity to see their racing heroes once again.
It was won by Accordion Etoile, owned by the Banjo Syndicate, while Hardy Eustace came second.
