Competition begins at the Millstreet international horse trials

Competition begins today at the Millstreet international horse trials being hosted by the Duggan family at Drishane Castle.

Dressage for all but one of the six classes at the Co Cork venue starts early this afternoon, continuing in the CIC1* and CIC3* sections tomorrow morning when those competing in the CIC2* division will also perform their flat work tests. Some show jumping is scheduled for today but the bulk of this phase will take place tomorrow with Sunday being devoted to cross-country action.

Most of the top Irish-based riders are competing at the event with the overseas challengers including Britain's John Paul Sheffield, Polly Stockton, Nicky Roncoroni and Nick Gauntlett, Australia's Kevin McNab, New Zealand's Lucy Jackson, Blyth Tait, Dan Jocelyn and Tim Price and India's Ajai Appachu.

Meanwhile, six Irish combinations are competing at the European young riders’ eventing championships at Strzegom, Poland where, after yesterday’s first day of dressage, Ireland was lying third of the nine teams whose first two riders had completed their tests.

At the five-star show jumping venue Gijon in Spain, Ireland's Billy Twomey won yesterday's featured jump-off class on the 18-year-old mare Tinka's Serenade with Dermott Lennon placing fourth on the five-year younger mare Loughview Lou Lou.