THE two-week Mullingar International Horse Show kicked off at the Fagan family’s state of the art facility on Friday and is expected to give a spin-off of approximately €2 million to the local Co Westmeath economy.
In a new venture, show organiser Robert Fagan extended the two-star international show to a two-week tour running over consecutive weekends, offering a total prize fund of €180,000 and culminating with the two-star Grand Prix, which forms a leg of the Plusvital Premier Series, on bank holiday Monday, June 2nd with a prize fund of €28,200.
There are 22 international classes on offer over the two weeks, including three world ranking classes with €84,600 prize money, plus 40 national classes and a qualifier for the Defender Puissance at this year’s Dublin Horse Show. Spanish course designer Javier Trenor Paz is on duty at the venue.
The first week runs until tomorrow, Sunday, May 25th with a two-star Grand Prix, and week two begins on Thursday, May 29th, until Monday, June 2nd.
Speaking to The Irish Field on the opening day of the show, Robert Fagan was delighted to get up and running. “We have huge entries in the national classes which we didn’t expect and we have very good entries for the international with it being our first week – just short of 200 international entries.
“Next week will be busier again, 250 or 260 international horses. Some riders are in Peelbergen this week and come here next week,” Fagan continued.
“We took a leap of faith with the two weeks and you can’t be certain how it’s going to work out but the feedback has been excellent. We will evaluate it all again when it’s over but we are very lucky with the support from within the industry, it wouldn’t be feasible otherwise.
“It is important for the country; we don’t have too many international shows so it’s an opportunity for riders to get ranking points and for the younger riders to get experience and opportunity to compete at an international show. We have three ranking classes as well as lots of young rider prizes and extra things.”
On the spin-off to the local economy, Fagan added: “All the hotels and B&Bs are full, plus the business it brings to the restaurants and filling stations around us. It is great for the local economy.”
Also speaking from Mullingar, Showjumping Ireland’s Ronan Corrigan highlighted the importance of the event to SJI members, saying: “Mullingar EC and the Fagan family will host some of the Summer Series qualifiers, amateur qualifiers and SJI are providing funding toward next weekend’s Grand Prix which forms part of the Plusvital Premier Series. SJI seeks to ensure that member funds are provided to support events and competitions that are expected by those very members and to develop new leagues and series that will provide a direct support to the sector and to the broader industry which includes so many of our shows and venues.”
Millstreet international
Meanwhile, the bank holiday weekend will also see the Duggan family host their international eventing fixture at their Green Glens Arena in Millstreet, Co Cork. The event will run nine classes including a CCI4*-L and offer a total prize fund of €36,500.
The event attracts some of the best riders in the world, including Tokyo and Paris Olympic gold medallist Laura Collett and Australia’s Kevin McNab, plus a host of overseas-based Irish riders returning to home soil.
A full preview of the event can be read on page 90.