The Irish Universities Riding Clubs Association will hold their Nations Cup event this week in Knockagh View Equestrian Centre, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim. The event, which runs from 18th to 20th March, in sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland and will see 14 Nations represented, with a total of 45 riders competing and a large contingent of international supporters making the trip to cheer on their teams. Riders from Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA and Ireland will compete in the event, which is the first Nations Cup of the 2011 season.

The World University Equestrian Championships (WUEC) are held every two years, where countries compete to be crowned World Champions. In 2010, at the WUEC in Korea, Ireland won Team Gold. For this Nations Cup, the Irish Team sees Michael Hutchinson (NUI Maynooth), Sara Glynn (DIT) and Alex Donohoe (DCU) competing, with Natalie Quinlivan acting as Chef d’Equipe. Two individual Irish riders will also compete – Katie Nolan (UCD) and Linda Murphy (Gurteen College). The event is comprised of both dressage and showjumping competitions, with riders competing on previously unseen horses sourced locally by the Organising Committee.

Full coverage and results from the event will be available on the IURCA website (www.irishstudentriders.com) and the HSI website (www.horsesportireland.ie).