The Irish duo of Jessica Kurten and Denis Lynch travel to Bordeaux, France, on Thursday, following their outing at Nantes last weekend.
The 300 kilometre journey also sees them step up from Nantes's three-star to Bordeaux's five-star World Cup level, with the attendant rise in both fence heights and prize money.
The 32-year-old Lynch will bring out his top horse, Flaminia
Straumann's Lantinus, for the event, as well as First Love and
Abbervail van het Dingeshof.
Kurten, meanwhile, travels down France's west coast with the mares Miribel D’Auvray, Quibell and Castle Forbes Cosma, along with the chestnut stallion Carrick 8.
In Italy, Ireland's Damien Dixon, Niall Talbot and Kevin Thornton line out for Manerbio's two-star show with ten horses between them.
Over in Florida, US-based Irish riders will take part in the
continuing Winter Equestrian Festival in sunny Wellington. The
contingent competing in the three-star World Cup event includes Shane Sweetnam, Darragh Kerins and former Olympian Kevin Babington.
Sweetnam lines out with Amaretto d'Arco and Rolette, while Kerins will ride Night Train and Babington Souvenir.
IRISH PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN EVENTS
CSI5*-W BORDEAUX FRANCE FEBRUARY 06 – 08 2009
Denis Lynch with Lantinus, First Love and Abbervail Van Het Dingeshof, Jessica Kurten with Miribel D’Auvray, Quibell, Carrick 8 and Castle Forbes Cosma.
CSI2* MANERBIO ITALY FEBRUARY 06 – 08 2009
Damien Dixon with Valderoi, Wiranda Von Wiesenau CH, Sonnengraf CH, Vivaldi and Calidus Van Het Asbornveld, Niall Talbot with Nina Des Ulis, Onisha, Cycloon W and Opium De Baudry, Kevin Thornton.
CSI3*-W WELLINGTON FLORIDA USA FEBRUARY 04 – 08 2009
Shane Sweetnam with Amaretto d'Arco and Rolette, Darragh Kerins with Night Train, Kevin Babington with Souvenir.
