Following an increasing number of queries, the team at Millstreet are delighted to announce provisional dates for the 2014 Welcome Tour which will return to the Green Glens Arena in April 2014.
Week One: Thursday 3rd – Sunday 6th April
Week Two: Thursday 10th – Sunday 13th April
Week Three: Thursday 17th – Sunday 20th April (Easter) (CSI*)
Please note that these dates are provisional and subject to change. The schedule will be released at a later date.
Tadhg Ryan
After eight days of showjumping featuring four thousand entries across one hundred and forty five classes, the inaugural Millstreet Welcome Tour came to a close last Sunday. Developed following feedback from riders, the new initiative brought a diverse range of visitors to the Co. Cork venue from far and wide including newly appointed H.S.I. Chairperson Patrick Wall, High Performance Manager Robert Splaine, Minister of State Lucinda Creighton and S.J.I. Chairperson Tony Hurley. International visitors included Fiona Quennell and her daughter Kirsty Richardson who made the twelve hour journey from the Cabin Equestrian Centre in Aberdeen while fifteen year-old Lucinda Roche travelled from Coventry with four horses to compete at the show. Also travelling from abroad to join the team of course designers were Fabrice Kettmus (BEL) and Olaf Herrmann (GER) who were praised for building a series of tracks that educated young horses. Away from the showjumping arenas, visitors found the various evening events hugely beneficial with discussions on topics including equine nutrition, veterinary medicine and sports psychology. The launch of the Connolly’s Red Mills GBI Tour also proved to be a focal point, with the final due to be held during Millstreet International Horse Show CSI*** on 18th August.
Sven Hadley and Adelgonde Z – Grand Prix Winner (Welcome Tour (1))
The 1.35m Welcome Tour Grand Prix headlined a schedule of events that attracted a lot of professional riders and producers of young horses including 19 year-old Sven Hadley. Fresh from his time on the Sunshine Tour in Veter De Fontera, the 2012 European Junior Team Gold medallist brought fifteen horses to Millstreet over the Easter weekend and succeeded in winning twelve classes before travelling to Barnadown where he went on to win the International Young Riders Grand Prix at the SJI European Trials. Hadley returned to Millstreet the following Sunday in an attempt to follow up on his success in the previous weekend’s Grand Prix but in the end, victory in the €5,000 Welcome Tour Grand Prix went the way of Tom Foley. Another rider to travel to Barnadown during the Welcome Tour hiatus, the Clare-based rider partnered Susan Sweetnam’s “Zamir” in a faultless performance; capping off a successful week that included taking the top two positions in the Junior Grand Prix at the Young Rider European Trials.
Tom Foley and Zamir – 2013 Welcome Tour Grand Prix Winner
The qualifying places on offer for the Millstreet Boomerang and Ruby classes in August were hotly contested on both weekends of the Tour. Michael Duffy won the 6/7 Year Old class on Easter Monday with Vinnie Duffy’s “Cass.” Duffy is making a very good start to his first year competing horses and is a brother of Alex who is based in Germany with Carl Hanley. On the second weekend, Gemma Phelan took the
second Boomerang qualification on offer with Rory Costigan’s “GRC Tadmus.” From Cappagh, Co. Waterford, this was Phelan’s first major since she took over the ride twelve months ago on the gelding whose sire previously stood at Lissava Stud.
Liam O’ Meara had a busy week and was successful in picking up two qualifying slots for the Millstreet Ruby class in August. The Toomevara-based rider took the first weekend’s 5 Year Old Final with father Martin’s “Curraghgreigue Jack Takes Flight” and repeated this feat a week later with his own “Kenny’s Flight.”
Event horse riders and producers were also catered for during the Welcome Tour with Danny Dulohery taking time off from preparing for his International Horse Trials at Kilguilkey to build a young-horse friendly “CrossJump” track that proved ideal for green and novice horses. The arena was kept busy across both weekends and further developments to this part of the Green Glens Complex are ongoing ahead of August’s International Show.
At the Farewell Reception, Thomas Duggan acknowledged the positive feedback received from riders and owners alike and said; “there is a great appetite for this unique concept on the Irish equestrian calendar and we are very pleased to have been the ones to provide this service. We aim to build on the success of this inaugural Welcome Tour and make further innovations and developments for 2014.”
Due to the threat of heavy rain coming in on Sunday afternoon, we have decided to alter the schedule for the final day of classes in the 2013 Welcome Tour.
Sunday April 7th |
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| Event | Time | Class | Arena |
| 138 | 08:30 | 1.20m -1.25m Final | Main Arena |
| 139 | 11:00 | 1.30m-1.35m Final | Main Arena |
| 140 | 13:00 | 6/7 Year Old Final | Main Arena |
| 141 | 08:30 | 1.00m Final | Arena 1 |
| 142 | 11:00 | 1.10m-1.15m Final | Arena 1 |
| 143 | 13:00 | 5 Year Old Final | Arena 1 |
| 144 | 10:00 | 80-90cm Final | Arena 2 |
| 145 | 12:00 | 4 Year Olds | Arena 2 |
List of Stallions participating in the Stallion Parade at Millstreet on Friday 5th April at 7:30PM in the Main Indoor Arena.
| Stallion Name | Type |
| Mandou Gold | Arab |
| Rockrimmon Silver Diamond | Irish Draught |
| Derg Showtime | Irish Draught |
| Berkly Cruise | Irish Sports Horse |
| Uskerty Sweet Lad | Irish Sports Horse |
| Astral Heartbreaker | Show Pony |
| Dunleigh | Thoroughbred |
| Tau Ceti | Thoroughbred |
| Diamond Discovery | Thoroughbred |
| Taylor Stone | Thoroughbred |
| Munther | Thoroughbred |
| Castleforbes Lord Lancer | Warmblood |
| Tabasco Van Erperkon | Warmblood |
| Master Blue | Warmblood |
We are delighted to announce that the inaugural Millstreet Welcome Tour has substantial entries with further entries being accepted on the day. We have been working hard over the past number of months to further upgrade facilities which now include more arenas with all-weather surfaces.
As part of the 2013 Welcome Tour, the team at Millstreet have organised an exciting evening programme which aims to be both a social and educational experience for all attendees at the show.
| Friday March 29th |
Red Mills Nutrition by Nia O’Malley |
| Saturday March 30th |
Introduction to Sports Psychology by Dr Alan Ringland |
| Sunday March 31st |
Safety at show discussion Pub Quiz & DJ |
| Monday April 1st |
Bar & TV |
| Thursday April 4th |
Introduction to Horse Sport Medicine by Henk Offereins |
| Friday April 5th |
Stallion Owners Stallion Parade |
| Saturday April 6th |
Farewell Party |
We are delighted to announce that the inaugural Millstreet Welcome Tour has substantial entries. We have been working hard over the past number of months to further upgrade facilities which now include more arenas with all-weather surfaces. The Welcome Tour will have an exciting evening programme which aims to be both a social and educational experience for all attendees at the show.
Good Friday March 29th features a talk given by Red Mills nationalist Nia O’Malley on how to ensure that your horse is fed to maximize digestion, well-being and performance.
Saturday March 30th will contain a discussion on Sport Psychology presented by Dr Alan Ringland who is an accredited Sport Psychologist with the Institute of Sport. Alan has worked with the Irish Paralympic Team at both Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
Sunday March 31st will introduce the first of our social events with a quiz in the Coach Restaurant and is preceded by a safety at shows discussion with a practical demonstration given by Caroline Neville.
Thursday April 4th will include a discussion on an Introduction to Sport Horse Medicine presented by Dutch born Veterinarian Henk Offereins DVM, MVSc who will demonstrate how to ensure that your horse is pain free while competing.
Friday April 5th will feature a Stallion Parade presented by the Stallion Owners. Over twenty top class stallions will be on show and this is a must for all breeders.
Saturday April 6th is the social highlight of the Tour with our Farewell Party in the Coach House Restaurant. There will be live traditional music, pig on the spit and Barber Shop music and is a must for all!
We are very pleased to announce details of our first ever Millstreet Welcome Tour Easter Weekend starting March 29th and the following weekend to April 7th, in total 8 days jumping. The tour comes as a new premise to our calendar. It is very much an unknown territory for us, but a great challenge nonetheless. We would appreciate your support to make it a success and your feedback to further develop the concept to meet with today’s challenges in the production/training of young horses.
Entry Packages :
We have structured the programme in a way that encourages the development of both young and experienced horses, giving multi-ring experience over the Tour duration. The packages are keenly priced and flexible to enable movement of horses from one height band to another as their experience demands. There is a “training clear round course” available to already entered horses and riders throughout the Tour.
Course Designers :
Our Course Designers are ever mindful of the needs of owners, riders and horses at this time of year and will design and build accordingly. In addition to the excellent expertise available nationally we will draw upon the international experience of our visiting team members: Olaf Herrmann (GER) and Fabrice Kettmus (BEL).
Millstreet CSI 3* (August) Qualifying places :
The Tour includes qualifying places for the Millstreet Ruby 5 year old Final and the Boomerang Final at Millstreet CSI 3* International in August. One place in each is available to the winners of the Easter Finals and two places will be on offer to first and second placed horses in the second weekend finals.
Jump Cross :
Our Jump Cross competition will be over a course of showjumps and cross country jumps. It will be on an all-weather surface and will simulate an open cross country well with the added confidence of sound footing in the event of poor weather conditions. This is a good preparation for the imminent season.
Irish Sport Horse Studbook Series :
We have applied for qualifying rounds of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Series for any one of the two weekends, having read the requirements laid out in the HSI website, we feel, and have been told by many riders that we satisfy all requirements. If fortunate enough to be among the allocated shows we may have to alter the timing of some events.
Evenings :
We are currently planning an evening programme for those of you who will be resident in Green Glens for the duration, aspects of which will be educational, informative and social.
We aim to further develop and expand this tour and look forward to your support to make this an annual or twice annual fixture.
Thank you for your interest and looking forward to seeing you in Millstreet!
View the schedule and rules here. Entries will be opening shortly.
Final preparations are being made to the schedule for the inaugural Millstreet Welcome Tour, taking place at the Green Glens Arena over the Easter period.
Entries will open later in February with a confirmed schedule to be published shortly.
Click here for details on accommodation available during the Tour. The Gleneagle Hotel are offering special rates for those attending the Tour.
