A host of racing and equestrian stars align for the Treo Eile Christmas Show

Carlow Olympian Sam Watson is one of the equine stars are involved in the Treo Eile Christmas Show 
A host of racing and equestrian stars align for the Treo Eile Christmas Show

Robbie Power and Sizing John competing at last year's Treo Elie Christmas Show

A host of racing and equestrian stars align for the Treo Eile Christmas Show Emerald Equestrian Centre, Thursday December 12 Oisin Murphy, Colin Keane, Davy Russell, Barry Geraghty, Nina Carberry, Robbie Power and Paul and Jody Townend, eventing Olympians Sarah Ennis, Sam Watson, Caroline Powell and Austin O’Connor, are among the stars aligning for this year’s Treo Eile Christmas show on Thursday December 12 at Emerald Equestrian Centre near Enfield on the Meath / Kildare border.

The Horse Racing Ireland Treo Eile Thoroughbred Classic, the feature class on the night is a team competition to showcase the very best of Ireland's retrained racehorses. Teams of four will compete in a timed competition. Captained by a jockey, each team will have a professional and amateur rider, who will all ride former racehorses. The fourth team member will be a talented pony rider. Each rider will jump a course of fences followed by a jump-off to decide the winners of the coveted Horse Racing Ireland Perpetual Trophy.

Hosted by Racing TV’s Kevin O’Ryan and Brendan McArdle of The Irish Field, the Christmas show will begin at 12 noon with two classes for thoroughbreds: the Weatherbys Ireland GSB Ltd Thoroughbred Discovery 80cm and Connolly's Red Mills Thoroughbred Starfinder 90cm. The young guns will quickly follow in the equuip Pony Christmas Cracker 80cm.

Olympian Sam Watson will take to the ring for a show jumping demo with his thoroughbred, Nominator.

Just before the main event, household favourites Tiger Roll, Al Boum Photo, A Plus Tard and General Principle will be on show in the Moyglare Stud Parade of Champions.

Co-Founder of Treo Eile, Caoimhe Doherty, said: “The Treo Eile Christmas Show is the pinnacle of our year. It is a wonderful event full of fun, friends and most importantly, celebrating the ex-racehorse and showcasing their abilities in a second career. It is such a pleasure to bring together so many different sectors of the equestrian community - racing, showjumping, and eventing, all for the good of the horse. We are excited for what will be our fourth annual show and hope to see friends new and old in Emerald Equestrian Centre on Thursday December 12.” 

Tickets cost €15 per person, family ticket (two adults, two children) for €40, groups of 10 for €100 and can be bought online https://www.itsplainsailing.com/org/te 

Treo Eile Christmas show programme 

12noon: The Weatherbys Ireland GSB Ltd Thoroughbred Discovery 80cm, two-phase class open to 4yo+ thoroughbred horses registered with Weatherbys or equivalent stud book. Prize for the highest placed competitor 18yo and under.

2pm: Connolly’s Red Mills Starfinder 90cm, two-phase class open to 4yo+ thoroughbred horses registered with Weatherbys or equivalent stud book. Prize for the highest placed competitor 18yo and under.

3.45pm: equuip Pony Christmas Cracker 80cm, two-phase class format open to ponies up to 14.2hh and children not older than 14 years old on December 31, 2024. Restricted to one pony per child.

5pm: Show jumping demo with Olympian Sam Watson 5.15pm: Moyglare Stud Parade of Champions Al Boum Photo, Mickah Wallace, Tiger Roll, Tiffany’s Gold, General Principle, A Plus Tard.

6pm: HRI Treo Eile Thoroughbred Classic Celebrity team competition with a host of racing and equestrian stars.

Team 1 

ROBBIE POWER, Meath 

Georgia de Bromhead, Waterford 

Terence White, Dublin 

Mia de Bromhead, Waterford 


Team 2 

DONAGH MEYLER, Kilkenny 

Alex Shortt, Kildare 

Sue Shortt, Kildare 

Jamie Buckley, Meath 


Team 3 

NINA CARBERRY, Meath 

Georgia Queally, Kildare 

Stephanie McGlynn, Kildare 

Rolline O’Callaghan, Kildare 


Team 4 

DAVY RUSSELL, Cork 

Finn Russell, Cork 

Austin O'Connor, Cork 

Rachael O'Callaghan, Westmeath 


Team 5 

PAUL TOWNEND, Cork 

Ellen O'Neill, Kildare 

Caroline Powell, NZL/UK Based 

Louise Duffy, Meath 


Team 6 

KEVIN MANNING, Kildare 

Nancy Lyons, Kilkenny 

Louise Lyons, Kilkenny 

Heather McKenzie, Tipperary 


Team 7 

BARRY GERAGHTY, Meath 

Sophie Morrin, Kildare 

Sam Watson, Carlow 

Jane Davis, Carlow 


Team 8 

JOSEPH O'BRIEN, Tipperary 

Eliza Wardell, Wicklow 

Sarah Ennis, Meath 

Claire O’Ryan, Kildare 


Team 9 

SAM EWING, Antrim 

Evie Holohan, Kildare 

Daragh Byrne, Kildare 

Seainin Mahon, Down 


Team 10 

JODY TOWNEND, Cork 

Josh Fitzgerald, Waterford 

Patrick Whelan, Wexford 

Sofie Walsh, Westmeath 


Team 11 

OISIN MURPHY, Kerry/UK based 

Hannah Horan, Kildare 

Sean Monaghan, Kildare 

Emma Sweeney, Meath 


Team 12 

COLIN KEANE, Meath 

Nia Webbon, Kildare 

Lucca Stubington, Antrim 

Sarah Lang, Kilkenny

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