13th April 2002

No sponsor for jumping league

By Michael Slavin

For the first time in almost 20 years the vital national show jumping league is about to get under way without a title sponsor.

As matters now stand there is a great shortage of local sponsorship for upwards of 30 outdoor rounds scheduled for between now and September but at the end of it all unless the SJAI itself steps in, there will be no bonus for the riders gaining the most points during the season.

Prior to this, anywhere up to €10,000 in extra prizes was divided between the top three performers. On top of that an overall league sponsor helped ensure greater coverage for the individual events and the local backers involved.

Sadly the recent SJAI Bulletin had to admit "at the time of going to print no league sponsor has been identified". While hope was still expressed that "some enthusiastic entrepreneur" would still come to the rescue. However, as we went to press, national chairman Tony Hurley confirmed that no sponsor had yet been found.

The first League round of 2002 is set to take place at the Co Louth Show near Dundalk on Sunday April 28.

During the month of May action moves from Thomastown to Callaghan over the bank holiday weekend and then on to Peninsula in North County Dublin, Punchestown, Gowran, Castleforbes and Ward Union.

Stepaside and Mullingar again fill the June holiday weekend followed by Armagh, Ballivor, Saintfield, Galway, Clonmel, Charleville and Rolestown.

Still to come on the very positive calendar are Omagh, Blessington, Ennis, Limerick & District, Newcastlewest, New Ross, Waterford, South Co. Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Millstreet, Limerick, Cavan and Piltown.

That is a great series of shows that has come back from cancellation last year to run again with good local sponsorship. It is unfortunate that the powers that be within show jumping have not been able to knit it all together with a good national backer.

In the past, League sponsors have included Furstenberg, Heineken, Land Rover, Izusu and the Irish Field, which filled the gap on two occasions.

Happily the League rules have not been relaxed. Declarations will still be required and start lists will be published prior to each rounds. For weekend Grand Prix events riders must declare by 5 p.m. of the previous Thursday. For mid - week events declarations must be in by the previous Friday. Non- shows in the event itself will get a fine of €30. This helps ensure a start - list of which a local sponsor can be proud.

Grand Prix events must carry a prize fund of at least €3,000 in order to be part of the League. In order to be in the newly created Super League they have to have €4,500 on offer.

It is still not to late for a sponsor to put its name to the 2002 League - for the good of the sport and coverage of it one can only hope that someone will still come along.

Ballivor Show is definitely on again

One of the major shows coming back from FMD cancellation last year is Ballivor, Co Meath. It will again be held on the land of Jimmy Dargan and will have three rings in operation.

NEC is again giving backing to the Grand Prix and it will no doubt be part of the National Super League. The date set for this great County Meath fixture is Saturday/Sunday June 8-9. It will again include both a showing and show jumping programme.