IT has emerged that Barnadown, which normally hosts the final of the TRM/New Heights Champion Series at its flagship Irish Breeders Classic show in September, has not been allocated any date in the series this year.

Riders have also raised concerns over the close proximity of dates in July and August, with the final taking place on the eve of Dublin Horse Show week.

Maurice Cousins from Barnadown Showjumping told The Irish Field: “The Irish Breeders Classic is a very well supported event, with all the top riders and horses attending. This year at our own expense, we offered even more enhancements to the event, such as Clip My Horse and a big screen.

“We applied at the same time as all the shows and this week, we received correspondence from SJI saying that they could not facilitate us, by adding another round due to budget constraints. We never asked them to add an additional round to the schedule, we applied at the same time as other venues.”

League champion for the last two years, Greg Broderick, said: “I am very disappointed to see one of the top grass arenas in the country being bypassed. As a rider who competes at 1.50m level in Ireland, I have to question some of the arenas that have been selected.

“The series is meant to be pinnacle of show jumping and it has left riders very disillusioned about who is making the decisions about venue allocation and what criteria they are using.”

SJI’s National Competitions chair Eamonn Rice said: “Unfortunately, we had a number of venues express interest in hosting New Heights Champions Series this year and some were unsuccessful.”

In the National Grand Prix, the overall winner’s prize fund has been reduced from €4,000 to €3,000, while second and third places remain the same. The overall champion will receive a prize fund of €2,000 but the prize fund for each round has not yet been allocated. Rice commented: “The prize funds have not yet been finalised.”

TIGHT DATES

Rice acknowledged the proximity of some dates (six from July 6th to August 4th), saying: “We understand that the calendar is very compact again this year. Our criteria states that competitors are not expected to attend all legs.”

One rider commented: “This series is something that we aim to support as it is a way to earn decent prize money, while competing in what is meant to be the pinnacle event of show jumping in Ireland.”

Another rider added: “If you want to keep your horse in good jumping form, you won’t go to every round, as it will be too much on them.

“In two cases, there is not even a week separating the rounds.”

Ronan Corrigan of The Showjumpers Club confirmed: “We have had a number of calls from riders and owners, who are concerned about the scheduling of the 2019 New Heights Series, with six events, including the final, happening in a window of five weeks.

“Some feel that it is going to put pressure on horses and riders who try to support the series and indeed try to pay their way through it.

“There will be a significant cost on owners and riders through entries being all in one month and when one considers that it is the month before Dublin Horse Show, it could have the effect of many Dublin-bound riders bypassing some of these shows.”

TRM/NEW HEIGHTS

CHAMPIONS SERIES

Source: SJI website