Pupils from Donegal to Wexford and across the breadth of the country will be converging on Co Carlow this Saturday as Coláiste Bhírde, Carnew hosts the Holmstead All-Ireland inter-schools’ hunter trials at Lisgarvan House, Ballon.

The event was launched last December when the guest of honour was leading Irish international show jumper Bertram Allen. The Germany-based Co Wexford rider, who has secured an individual place for Ireland at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, was a participant in the event during his schooldays.

Coláiste Bhríde has a strong equestrian tradition as befits its largely rural catchment area of south Wicklow, north Wexford and parts of Co Carlow. In recent years the school’s equestrian teams have competed at Hickstead in Britain have also been the ‘team to beat’ in the strong inter-schools’ show Jumping competition, winning multiple times in the past 10 years.

Senior horse sports see men and women compete against each other and this is also true at underage level. The 67 trios entered in the secondary schools’ teams’ event sees a combination of all-girls, all-boys and mixed squads. There are 137 riders listed for the individual senior (15-19 years of age) competition while the junior (12-15) class has attracted 166 entries.