Stena Line Dublin Horse Show Opens to Sunshine, Crowds & Irish Wins

08 Aug 2018

International show jumping opens with clean sweep for Ireland

A brilliant atmosphere on day one of the 2018 Longines FEI Nations Cup™ of Ireland at the Stena Line Dublin Horse Show saw crowds flock to the RDS. The Show opened with two Irish wins with Derry’s Daniel Coyle on Tienna taking the Speed Stakes sponsored by Alpes D’Or and Cork’s Billy Twomey on-board Ardcolum Duke winning the Minerva Stakes sponsored by Dublin Airport Central. Making it a clean sweep for Ireland, Darragh Kenny on Balou de Reventon took the final international competition of the day, the Sport Ireland Classic, in a jump-off with seven other horse and rider combinations.

Elsewhere, Frédéric Pignon and his dancing horses put on two fantastic shows for visitors, while the Horesplay Hub was hosted by Síle Seoige who spoke to farriers, vets and course designers, amongst others.

Commenting on the opening day Michael Duffy, CEO of the RDS said: “We had a great opening day. Crowds of people were treated to some superb show jumping, a host of entertainment and many went along to the Horseplay Hub which was on for the first time today. We are really looking forward to a new international competition at the Show tomorrow in the StableLab Stakes, which we expect will attract a high-calibre field. Of course many people will be looking forward to the Dundrum Town Centre Ladies Day too, with its €10,000 shopping voucher top prize, and the Horseplay Hub will get in on the act by hosting a day filled with style tips from Irish designers and milliners.”