AFTER three weeks of exciting qualifiers, the stage is now set for the Grande Finale weekend of the €30,000 Avonmore Summer Classic at River Lodge Equestrian next weekend (Friday and Saturday, August 21st and 22nd).
The brainchild of River Lodge Equestrian’s Michelle Kenny (28) and Rafael Sanctuary (30), the energetic young couple alongside their entire team at River Lodge, have worked absolutely tirelessly over the last number of months to bring this very welcome addition to the Irish equestrian circuit to fruition.
The first Summer Classic was held last summer and duly won the ‘Show of the Year’ award at the Irish Showjumping Awards Ball last December. This year’s the prize fund for the Avonmore Summer Classic – a total of €35,000 between the qualifiers and the Grande Finale – was significantly increased and despite the Covid-19 pandemic wiping out many equestrian fixtures this summer, Michelle and Rafael’s commitment never wavered.
Rafael Sanctuary and Michelle Kenny of River Lodge Equestrian with Barcelona \ Equus Pix Photography
Vital prize money
Between the Avonmore Summer Classic and the Irish Breeders’ Classic (August 27th-30th) alone, these two key elite show jumping events alone are set to pump a hefty €110,000 of vital prize money back into the Irish equestrian circuit.
Highlights of next weekend’s finals at River Lodge Equestrian include the Karlswood Grand Prix Series, featuring The HIVE Insurance Services 1.45m Grand Prix with €15,000 in prize money and the €5,000 Jim Derwin Equestrian 1.35m Grand Prix. The Irish Horse Gateway Young Horse Series features the RP Stables four-year-olds and the Higgins & MBF Sport Horses five- and six-year-olds.
With two days of finals jumping left, speculation is mounting as to who will be the lucky winner of the Equijump LTD Leading Rider title next weekend. Edward Doyle sits on top of the leaderboard but it’s all very much still to play for at this stage. Up for grabs is the wonderful prize of a custom made CWD Classic Saddle to be won so no doubt the final rounds will be very hard fought indeed.
World renowned Tipperary international course designer Alan Wade has been on home ground since the pandemic struck which has proved a huge bonus to the national show jumping circuit. Wade’s flowing courses are synonymous for producing top jumping action while simultaneously educating horses and riders alike.
Meanwhile, Clipmyhorse.tv with anchor Kieran O’Donovan, have been on hand throughout the Avonmore Summer Classic series to bring all the action, as well as top interviews, to a worldwide audience. Pandemic or no pandemic, everyone can tune into the action and be part of the Avonmore Summer Classic Grand Finale.
At the launch of the Avonmore Summer Classic at River Lodge Equestrian were (L-r) Allen Breen (Avonmore Stables), Michelle Kenny, Anja Moret (riding Hillside Grey Dawn), Rafael Sanctuary and Rob McOwan (Hive Insurance) \ Equus Pix Photography
Sponsorship support
The Avonmore Summer Classic Series, presented by Horse Sport Ireland, is also kindly supported by Karlswood, GAIN Equine Nutrition, Plusvital, Audi Wexford, Equicty, Jim Derwin Equestrian, MBF Sporthorses, HIVE Insurance Services, EquiJump, CWD, Allen Breen, Irish Horse Gateway, RP Stables, Horseware Ireland
Contact details
River Lodge Equestrian, Harpoonstown, Bridgetown, Wexford, Ireland
Bridgetown, Ireland Y35 X023
www.summerclassic.ie and also River Lodge Equestrian Facebook
Entries: info@summerclassic.ie