KEANE WINS BACK TO BACK  HSI GUIDAM SPRING TOURS AS BUTLER WINS AT MULLINGAR

Tholm Keane (Left) on his way to winning the HSI Guidam Spring Tour

Edward Doyle, Chairman of the Showjumpers Club, Michael Leddy on behalf of Glen Leddy owner of Gold Digger and the Showjumping Supporters Club, Ronan Corrigan Chairman of ShowjumpingIreland

ShowjumpingIreland are delighted to announce the details of the third ShowjumpingIreland Premier Series, Ireland’s Premier Grand Prix Show jumping competition.

The Premier Series has established itself as one of the major National Grand Prix leagues in Europe and has promoted many of our Irish based riders to Nations Cup level.  Last year 8 new riders competed on Nations Cup teams as a direct result of jumping in the Premier Series.

One of the main aims of the Premier Series was to differentiate it from any other National league.  A way of doing this is in the prize fund and again the minimum prize fund will be €12,000 for the Premier Series Grand Prix and €2,500 for the Qualifying round.  The Premier Series boasts a prize fund of over €250,000, one of the largest National Grand Prix League prize funds in Europe.

The Premier Series, this year, is being sponsored by ShowjumpingIreland and in association with the new Show jumping Support Partnership.  In the current climate it is of utmost importance to support the sport and industry and we hope this new concept will help sustain the sport.  Again there are 10 venues and this year we are pleased to announce that we have two new venues who will host the Premier Series; Coilog and Claremorris.  The 2009 final of the Premier Series will be held at the National Horse Championships which is being held at Coilog Equestrian Centre.

To run a Premier Series is something which has proved to be very successful for shows and with the success of so many shows over the years running these classes, and it has prompted new shows to become involved.  This year Coilog and Claremorris take the reins for their inaugural Premier Series and Chris Byrne is delighted to have the undertaking; ‘’The Premier Series has raised the standard of Show Jumping at home for potential International horses and as a stepping stone for horses to jump big tracks before competing Internationally.  It is a welcome addition to jumping at Coilog Equestrian.’’

The Series which begins in Louth County on April 26th will follow a similar format to last year’s series with the qualifying round being a One Round Table A class with the top 30 going forward to the Premier Series Grand Prix.  Omagh and Blessington will host their round over a different format to enable riders compete at both rounds and the Organisers efforts to support ShowjumpingIreland is greatly appreciated.

There are two International shows on the calendar again this year with Mullingar and Tattersalls both boasting CSI** status with Premier Series & Rolex World Ranking points on offer.  These venues have again showed their continued commitment to the Series through huge investment in time and money. 

Irishsport.tv will be focusing on the Premier Series with online coverage coming from each of the Premier Series shows.  These will be available online following each event with the Free to View Programme, ‘Jump Off’, being available the following Saturday with a programme also being made for terrestrial television.

2008 Premier Series Winning Owner Glen Leddy is relishing the task ahead with Gold Digger being aimed specifically at the Premier Series; ‘’Gold Digger is in Portugal at the moment gearing up for the Premier Series which is his main focus for 2009.  To win in 2008 was a great honour as it is such a prestigious league and we will be aiming to be very competitive in this year’s series.’’

The success of the Premier Series has been very evident over the last two years in terms of International success and Nations Cup success.  Chairman of The Showjumpers Club Edward Doyle feels strongly that the Premier Series has contributed to this success; ‘’In the current economic climate it is fantastic that we have a league of this calibre with such a large prize fund.  As regards International duty, it is the obvious stepping stone for team duty as we are jumping tracks that are of an International standard.’’

A stalwart of the Premier Series is Tom Holden who encompasses the role of Course Designer at many of the Premier Series shows and as a Show organiser with Louth County and Tattersalls.  ‘’From Louth County and Tattersall’s point of view it is brilliant to be involved in the Premier Series.  As a Course Designer, it is a privilege to design courses at shows of such a high standard.’’

The Premier Series kicks off next Saturday (April 26th) at the traditional Outdoor season curtain raiser in Louth County.  This is where we begin our trek to find our Premier Horse and Rider throughout the 10 leg league culminating in the final at the National Horse Championships.  ShowjumpingIreland Chairman Ronan Corrigan ‘’We are delighted to be in a situation where we can provide support to the Series.  In the current economic climate it is vital that the governing body be in a position to provide support to the highest level of competition.  We hope that it will help sustain activity within our sport and industry.  We are as always grateful to our owners, sponsors and show organisers.’’

The ShowjumpingIreland clothing range is now at the end of its first year, and we want to give something back to the members.

If you are an active owner or rider, you can avail of a 15-20% reduction on all products in the ShowjumpingIreland clothing range.  The more registrations you have the more discount you will get up to 20%.

The clothing is split into three ranges; the ‘Original’, the ‘Jump Off’ and the ‘Classic’.  We also have a small range of items for children.  However, the clothing range is just the tip of the iceberg as we are currently planning to expand our range of rugs, numnahs, breeches and much more for horse and rider.

On special offer this month, you will get a FREE ShowjumpingIreland Umbrella with every ''Boomerang'', ''Heather Honey'' and ''Castlepollard'' Jackets.

All products are available to buy online at www.showjumpingwear.com or you can call into the store in Mullingar or by e mailing info@showjumpingwear.com.  These offers are only available for a short time so get in early to avoid disappointment.  

The ShowjumpingIreland clothing range is also available in The Equestrian Store in Portadown and in Fetlocks & Cropsticks in Camolin in Co. Wexford.
 

Billy Twomey was in Kildare International Equestrian Centre on Tuesday, 7th April, taking the second part of the Mackey Equestrian training bursary.

Having taken the first clinic in early January, the success for those riders who took part has been very evident in the HSI Guidam Spring Tour.  Two of those riders, Conor Drain and Robert Harrison have taken Grand Prix wins so far this season with Conor in a comfortable lead at the top of the table.

This has prompted a second session and from the feedback received from the riders and sponsors, Mackey Equestrian, from the first date it was decided that Twomey was the obvious choice. 

Attention to detail was a key part to these clinics and the English based Irish rider was keen to make sure these riders progressed to the best of their abilities throughout the course of the two days.  Focussing mainly with working on the flat during the morning session, riders learned the key ingredients to having a horse riding nicely between fences. 

Taking in some jumping exercises the aim of the clinic was quite obviously not on the horses, but improving the rider’s techniques, balance and eye.  As with the first lesson, jumping at an angle became a feature of the morning session.  Aiding the rider’s eye for a stride, balance and the horses balance and capability at jumping across a fence.  They then jumped a short course working mainly on accuracy.  To finish the morning all riders were required to take away their stirrups, again in order to improve the rider.

The afternoon session began with a short warm up.  This was to be treated as a competition and a course was set with varying distances between fences to make riders chose their strides.  This was all in the theme of improving the riders and their eye for a stride. 

This proved to be a very successful clinic with Billy Twomey now being highly regarded as an excellent trainer as well as being one of the most highly respected riders in Ireland.  As the first clinic became a success throughout the Guidam Tour, this top up clinic should prove to be even more successful as the season kicks into full swing.

Managing Director of Mackey Equestrian Jason Popplewell feels that their objective was fulfilled; ‘’I thought Billy was great today.  It is also great to see all efforts starting to bear fruit with the likes of Conor and Robert securing Grand Prix wins, this is exactly what we at Mackey’s have set out to achieve with this sponsorship”.
 

O' SHEA TAKES FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON IN BARNADOWN

Dublin based rider Paul O' Shea recorded his first win of the 2009 season with a win in the HSI Guidam Spring Tour today in Barnadown. 

Riding Michael Hayden's Primo De Revel, the pair were the quickest of seven double clear rounds from a 13 way jump off.  O' Shea, who went early in the timed round, proved unbeatable with a double clear in a time of 37.79.  Having taken several wins on the Sunshine Tour, this was the Limerick natives first home win of the year.  O' Shea also took sixth and seventh with Camiro De Haar Z and Elba.

Mervyn Clarke Jnr came closest to snatching the prize with a late surge on Pauline Clarke's Sympatico S.  They were marginally slower breaking the beam in 38.00 to put Clarke's first points on the board.

With league leader Conor Drain missing out on the jump off with his four mounts, it left Tholm Keane with another chance to close the gap.  Riding Ronan Tynan's stallion Warrenstown You 2, Keane could manage only third when stopping the clocks in 38.83.  However, this moves Keane into clear second place and four points adrift of Drain who lies on 38 points after nine legs.

The Showjumpers Club Chairman, Edward Doyle, was another to make his first mark on the leader board with a fine fourth place finish on Catherine Doyle's Flexing.  A full sister to the Globe trotting Flexible, Flexing took home a double clear in 38.96.

Fresh from a very succesful Sunshine Tour, Young Rider Frank Curran was this weeks winner of the TRI Equestrian leading Young Rider with a fifth place finish on Pepp.  Frank also took eighth on Lolita.

Next week the action moves to Boswell Equestrian on Sunday with Clare Equestrian hosting the league on Easter Monday as we move into the final weeks of this year's ground breaking tour.

RESULT HSI GUIDAM SPRING TOUR AT BARNADOWN
1 - Paul O' Shea on Primo De Revel (Owner: Michael Hayden) 0/0 37.79
2 - Mervyn Clarke Jr on Sympatico S (Pualine Clarke) 0/0 38.00
3 - Tholm Keane on Warrenstown You 2 (Ronan Tynan) 0/0 38.83
4 -  Edward Doyle on Flexing (Catherine Doyle) 0/0 38.96
5 - Frank Curran on Pepp (John Curran) 0/0 39.01
6 - Paul O' Shea on Camiro De Haar Z (Ronnie Hollinger) 0/0 47.24
7 - Paul O' Shea on Elba (Paul Clarke) 0/0 51.18
8 - Frank Curran on Lolita (John Curran) 0/4 42.03

TRI Equestrian Leading Young Rider - Frank Curran

League standings after 9 legs:
1 - Conor Drain 38
2 - Tholm Keane 34
3 - John Floody 24
4 - Alexander Butler 17
5 - Edward Little 14
5 - Delyth Collins 14