An event to support fox-hunting will provide the climax for this year's Kerrygold Horse Show which opens at the RDS in Dublin tomorrow. In all, riders from 11 nations will compete for a record prize fund of £230,000 during the week.
They include Olympic gold medallist Ulrich Kirkhoff and the US silver medallists Peter Leone and Leslie Howard as well as Ireland's Peter Charles, the European champion.
The Kerrygold Nations' Cup will be held on Friday at 2.45 p.m.
The horse show ends on Sunday with what the organisers describe as the "grand finale", the Cheese Hunt Chase. Teams representing foxhound and harrier packs from Ireland and Britain will compete on Saturday and Sunday for a place in the final.
Described as "a high-speed event over natural-style obstacles similar to those met during the course of a day's hunting", the chase is held "in support of one of Ireland's most popular country sports", the organisers say.
Tomorrow's events include the Kerrygold Speed Stakes and the Kerrygold Welcome Stakes.
The show is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. and admission costs £6 for adults and £3 for pensioners and children.
