NEXT week (April 21) a total of nine Irish riders with ten horses will line out for one of the world's most prestigious sporting events, the four-star Badminton Horse Trials in England.

KILDARE-born Aoife Clark took third place for Ireland in today's (Sunday) three-star event at Belton Park in England, the traditional warm-up show for Badminton.

HORSE and Hound has reported that Daisy Berkeley's popular Irish-bred event horse Spring Along has died of a suspected heart attack at Gatcombe Horse Trials.

BADMINTON Horse Trials has the biggest spectator attendance of any annual sporting event in the UK, attracting over 250,000 visitors. This year eight Irish riders have been accepted for the event, with five more on a short list. The event takes place from April 21st to 25th. It is one of only six four-star events held globally each year.

EVENTING Ireland has announced a new sponsor for 2011. Hyde Equine, a competition, training and livery yard near Glanmire, Co Cork will be sponsoring a new league for the CNCP* (Pony B) class.

IRISH riders accounted for four of the top 15 places at the two-star event in Barroca d'Alva. Portugal this evening (Sunday), with Bandon-based Michael Ryan leading the contingent in fifth place.

HORSE Sport Ireland has announced a number of changes in the Senior Eventing High Performance Programme. Show Jumping coach Michael Quirke is unable to continue in his role due to increased international commitments with his own horses and Ian Fearon will take over the role for 2011.

IN A notable Irish whitewash, husband-and-wife duo Patricia and Michael Ryan dominated the final results at the Three Day events in Vale Sabroso, Portugal tonight (Sunday). And in a testament to the quality of the Irish Sport Horse, all six top ten results achieved by Irish riders were on Irish-bred mounts.

TATTERSALLS Ireland has announced the final line up of classes to run at the 2011 Tattersalls International Horse Trials in association with Horse Sport Ireland which take place 26-29 May 2011. As well as the recently announced new CCI *** class, Tattersalls has agreed to run a CIC *** class.

FOR the first time the Tattersalls International Horse Trials, in association with HSI, will run a CCI 3 Star Class at the Tattersalls Festival, which takes place from 26-29 May 2011, and will feature a new cross country course designed by renowned international event rider, Ian Stark.