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2019 Rory Best: Ireland Dublin Horse Show Set To Welcome

7th, 100,000 People To The RDS
August Hungry For World Cup

| Success
EXAMINER INPHO

IRISH

The Dublin Horse Show opened in the RDS in the capital
on Wednesday.
100,000 people are expected at the event which celebrates
100 years of women in show jumping.
131 competitions will take place including 18 internation-
al show jumping competitions, eight of which carry world
ranking points at the event which runs until Sunday.
This year is the 100th anniversary of women first show
jumping at the Dublin Horse Show.
They quickly competed against men and became an inte-
gral part of the event.
The highlight of the week is Longines FEI Jumping
Nations CupTM on Friday, when the Irish team will look to
maintain their impressive recent form and see off the
Mexican team who are back to defend last year’s win.
Other highlights include the Land Rover Puissance on
Saturday and the €350,000 Longines International Grand
ory Best has chal- the blip, not 2018.” also in contention. Prix of Ireland on Sunday. C
lenged Ireland to Ireland host Italy at the Asked if the Irish public
Rjustify their 2018 Aviva Stadium on Saturday confidence adds pressure or Former Ireland Goalkeeper
Six Nations Grand Slam to kick-start their build-up to belief, Best replied: “It’s David Forde Retires
at this year’s World Cup. the World Cup in Japan. probably a bit of extra belief.
The Ireland captain Schmidt’s side will launch Our biggest pressure comes The former Republic of
believes Joe Schmidt’s men their World Cup bid by tak- internally. Ireland goalkeeper David
must seize the “reality ing on Scotland on “New Zealand are the best Forde has retired from football
check” of turning last term’s September 22, with confi- team in the world and they at the age of 39.
Grand Slam into a third-place dence still riding high among are the favorites. But I also The Galway native won 24
finish this year. Irish fans of a best-ever tour- think this will be one of the caps for the Boys in Green.
The 36-year-old hooker nament. most open World Cups. He made over 300 appear-
insisted Ireland are the hun- Best and company will “Anyone will feel they can ances for Millwall and also
griest he has seen them face Wales twice and beat anyone on their day. lined out for Galway United
under head coach Schmidt, England in completing their And it’s great that Ireland and Derry City.
ahead of Saturday’s opening warm-up matches before jet- can be one of those teams. He tweeted a video announcing his retirement, saying:
World Cup warm-up match ting out to Japan. “But we also know that, “The time has come to lay down my gloves for the last time.
against Italy in Dublin. The long-serving Ulster look at Wales and England in I have been truly blessed.
“When Joe first came in hooker will be 37 by the time the Six Nations, we can lose “To receive the honor and privilege to wear the crests
the big question was ‘how do the tournament kicks off but to those teams too.” and colours of incredible teams. Thank you all so much, go
we perceive ourselves?’, and admitted feeling as good as Best believes Ireland’s
the big answer was ‘inconsis- ever amid a grueling pre-sea- maiden two victories over raibh mile mhaith agat mo anam cairde.” C
tent’,” said Best. son. back-to-back world champi- James Owens Confirmed As
“And what we’ve worked Schmidt’s men are once ons New Zealand, in
hard to do is to prepare the again bidding to move Chicago in 2016 and Dublin All-Ireland Hurling Final Referee
same whoever we play and beyond the quarter-finals for in autumn 2018, have offered James Owens has
whatever we do. first time, but the Irish public significant confidence boosts. been confirmed as refer-
“That’s how it’s always have high confidence their “That first victory against ee for this year’s All-
been under Joe and we cer- side could even lift the Webb New Zealand, in Chicago, it Ireland senior hurling
tainly won’t go away from Ellis Cup. felt like we pushed through a final.
that now. New Zealand are seeking ceiling,” said Best, speaking The August 18 clash
“It sometimes takes a real- a hat-trick of World Cup as a FloGas ambassador. of Kilkenny and
ity check, and finishing third titles on the run, with Best “But it was hugely impor- Tipperary will be the
was bitterly disappointing. admitting the All Blacks are tant to get the second one, to Wexford native’s third
“So coming in at the start still favorites for yet another prove again that we can do hurling decider.
of this pre-season everyone is crown. it. Owens previously took charge of the 2015 final between
as hungry as I have ever seen But Best also predicted the “We want to be a team Galway and Kilkenny, and last year’s win for Limerick over
them. most open World Cup yet, that can prove we can beat
“We’ve had a group of with Grand Slam champions anyone and we’ve not just Galway.
players that want to prove Wales and a burgeoning shown it once, we’ve shown Patrick Murphy will take charge of the Minor final meet-
that the 2019 Six Nations was England and South Africa it twice now.”C ing of Galway and Kilkenny. C