RTÉ has confirmed that it will screen the Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping Masters live on television on Friday 18 December.
Many of Ireland's top international riders, including those who recently lined-out on FEI Nations Cup duty and who are in contention for a the Olympics, have confirmed that they will be among a star-studded field, for a competition which will be broadcast live 6.30pm to 8.55pm on RTÉ 2 television and the RTÉ Player.
Bertram Allen and Denis Lynch are among the European-based riders set to return home to compete and the list of athletes also includes former World Champion Dermott Lennon, and last year's winner of the Longines Grand Prix of Ireland and Nations Cup regular Shane Breen.
Several top foreign riders will add an international flavour to the competition including Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping winner Sameh El Dahan from Egypt, Britain's Georgia Tame and Canada’s Rebecca McGoldrick.
Horse Sport Ireland acting CEO Joe Reynolds welcomed the news and said: "People still talk about the times when Show Jumping was on live television back in the 80's at venues such as Millstreet and Salthill and for many people that was their first taste of our sport.
"This has the potential to be the dawn of a new era and an opportunity to showcase to the Irish public, our exceptionally talented group of Irish riders that are regularly winning competitions on the international stage. It is also a chance to give people a taste of what is in store next year when for the first time in history, Ireland will be represented at the Olympic Games in Tokyo by full teams in Dressage, Jumping and Eventing.
"I want to thank RTÉ for this huge commitment to broadcast this exciting competition live across the nation. Our Elite riders all came on board at very short notice and I want to thank them for the huge effort they are all making to support this HSI Show Jumping Masters."
Declan McBennett, Group Head of RTÉ Sport added: "As we head towards an Olympic year RTÉ Sport is delighted to showcase the very best of our equestrian talent in a domestic setting. HSI deserve enormous credit for bringing such talent together in these difficult times and we are delighted to again showcase Irish sport to those who cannot attend."
