WHILE it’s most disappointing that the Irish Pony Club/Mackey Equestrian national hunter trials championships, scheduled for today at Hillcrest Equestrian Centre, had to be postponed because of ground conditions, there is plenty to keep members in competitive mood between now and the new date of Saturday, September 14th.

One of the main activities will be the qualifiers for the popular eventing championships, which will be sponsored by Connolly’s Red Mills, a global leader in equine nutrition, for the 10th consecutive year. The championships run in tandem with the Foran Equine eventing league and will take place at Tattersalls Ireland over the weekend of August 24th and 25th.

As a fifth-generation family business, the Co Kilkenny feed company realises how important it is to support the next generation of equestrian athletes. Working with the IPC, the Connolly’s Red Mills eventing championships and the Foran Equine eventing league are a fantastic opportunity for the firm to support the next generation of talented riders.

The championships will feature both team and individual sections spanning Open, Intermediate, Intro Intermediate, Junior and Under 12 competitions. There are 14 qualifiers taking place across the country commencing on Sunday, May 19th, when the Waterford Branch will host their leg at the Ballinamona Equestrian Centre.

The Foran Equine league, which will run alongside the championships, aims to reward horse or pony and rider combinations, who are consistently performing at the top of their category, with points being awarded to combinations from first to sixth place in their respective category. Prizes will be presented to the top three combinations in each category at the end of the season. Additionally, the winner of each category will be awarded a bursary, kindly sponsored by Connolly’s Red Mills and Foran Equine.

The championships will also feature prizes, courtesy of Carr & Day & Martin, sister brand of Connolly’s Red Mills and Foran Equine. This will include a best dressage prize in each arena, adding further excitement and recognition to the event.

Support

Speaking about the sponsorship, Jane Davis, Head of Equine Marketing at Connolly’s Red Mills, said: “We are delighted to continue our longstanding support of the Irish Pony Club eventing league and championships. Over the last decade, we have seen so many talented riders progressing through the categories, and it is a fantastic competition to be a part of. Thank you to all the volunteers, who work so hard to ensure the success of these events each season.”