International Student World Cup – Ravensdale Equestrian Centre

The International Student Riders Nations World Cup Final is to be staged at Ravensdale Lodge Equestrian Centre from 31st December 2009 to 2nd January 2010. This will be the first hosting of the event in Ireland.

Riders from 16 countries will arrive in Dundalk on New Year’s Eve.
The event will see 54 young riders, from countries including Egypt, Norway, Poland and the USA, competing in dressage and show jumping.
The competitiontakes place at Ravensdale Lodge Equestrian Centre in Co Louth.

Irish team chef d’equipe Natalie Quinlivan,member of the organising committee and secretary of IURCA (Irish Universities Riding Clubs Association) said: “We are very excited at the prospect of hosting an event
of this calibre and feel it is a great opportunity to promote Irish equestrianism and horses across the world.”

The event is being supported by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) and will see 54 student riders from 16 nations travel to compete at the Connolly family’s
Ravensdale Lodge on borrowed horses.
HSI Chairman Joe Walsh said that it was a great honour for Ireland to be hosting the competition. “I want to compliment IURCA for showing the
initiative in bringing this event to Ireland. Those who are supplying the horses also deserve praise and I’m sure it will be a huge success.”

Irish Team
The Irish SRNC Team comprises: Ben Crawford (Queens University Belfast and reigning Student World Show Jumping Champion),
Nicola Fitzgibbon (Trinity College Dublin) and Michael Hutchinson (NUI Maynooth).

Ireland, as the host nation, provides horses for the international competitors. It is a four round, knock-out competition where the final round dressage
test is at advanced-medium level and the final round show jumping track can reach 1m50.

This is a special year for this event as it is the World Cup Final where the overall leading country for this year will be determined.