Rachel Moriarty

The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) last week announced that it is proposing to host a five-day series of national championships with a select number of national showing and show jumping classes, in place of the five-star Dublin Horse Show, which has been cancelled for the second year in-a-row, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Subject to Government approval, the national championships will take place from 18-22 August, the same days the five-star show was originally scheduled to take place

The national championships will accommodate pony riders, young riders, children on horses and amateurs, as well as young horse classes for four-, five-, six-, seven-, eight- and nine-year-olds in show jumping.

Qualifying competitions for the show jumping classes will be organised in conjunction with Show Jumping Ireland (SJI).

Qualifiers for the showing classes will be organised with venues on a regional basis. Qualifiers are expected to be held in June, with details to be announced shortly.

The proposed showing classes include the Breeders’ Championship, Show Hunter Championships, three-year-old loose jumping and the three-year-old Potential Event Horses class.

The classes chosen to be included are based on the potential economic value to breeders, producers and other professionals in the sport horse industry.

Statement

A statement from the Dublin Horse Show reads: “In the current circumstances it has been decided that it will not be possible to operate a Dublin Horse Show this year. Preparations for a typical Dublin Horse Show take many months of planning and organisation, and this has not been possible this year with the levels of uncertainty that still exist around the re-opening of Irish society.

“The RDS National Championships will be held behind closed doors. Entry to the event will be restricted to equestrian competitors for the day of their competition only. The RDS is mindful of acting responsibly during these times and the event will only proceed on foot of Government approval, which is currently being sought.

“Our desire to host the RDS National Championships, despite the exceptionally challenging circumstances, is motivated by our commitment to support the sport horse industry during this very difficult time.”

The event will be live-streamed and available to watch via the Dublin Horse Show social media channels.

Proposed schedule

Showing classes

• Wednesday 18 August: yearlings; two-year-olds; three-year-olds (in hand); young horse championships; three-year-old potential event horses.

• Thursday 19 August: Irish draught mares and foals; Breeders’ Championship; show hunter championships; three-year-old loose performance.

Show jumping classes

• Friday 20 August: 148cm six and seven-year-old ponies; 148cm ponies; 138cm ponies; 128cm ponies; children on horses.

• Saturday 21 August: amateurs; young riders (1.10m – 1.15m); young riders (1.25m - 1.30m); young riders (1.35m - 1.40m); four-year-old horses.

• Sunday 22 August: five-year-old horses; six-year-old horses; seven-year-old horses; eight and nine-year-old horses.