ROLEX have made a five-year sponsorship proposal to the Dublin Horse Show, and are awaiting a reply, a spokesperson for the luxury Swiss watchmaker brand told The Irish Field this week.

Ireland’s only five-star show currently runs under the Longines banner.

Stephex Stables CEO and organiser of five-star Belgian shows, Stephan Conter, explained that, together with international show jumpers Kent Farrington (USA) and Steve Guerdat (Switzerland), he recommended that Rolex make a bid to sponsor the Dublin Grand Prix, bringing a €500,000 prize fund to the feature class.

Conter has been in conversation with the show organisers personally, adding that Rolex had formal contact with the Dublin Horse Show via email.

“Unfortunately we are totally disappointed, we have no answer. It gives us a bad feeling for the family of Rolex that we can’t make an auction between sponsors,” Conter said.

LONGINES TRADITION

A spokesperson for the Dublin Horse Show told The Irish Field said: “We are a Longines show and the Nations Cup series there which we are a part of.”

Conter went on to say he recommended Dublin become part of the ‘Rolex family’ after visiting the RDS show. “I was totally impressed about the public, I have been there this year to see my rider, Lorenzo de Luca, ride there. It was unbelievable for me. I called straight away Rolex and said, ‘guys this is the place’. For the Nations Cup, people are shouting and playing the game, not only for their country!”

Asked about his title with Rolex, Conter added: “I have no official title, I am the guy in the middle, I propose shows together with Kent Farrington and Steve Guerdat.”

The Aga Khan Nations Cup is part of the Longines FEI Nations Cup series, which carries a prize fund of €250,000, while Sunday’s Longines Grand Prix has a prize fund of €200,000.