The organising committee of the 2017 National Balmoral Championships launched their 30th Anniversary Show last week as the Belmont Hotel, Banbridge. Running from July 16th-19th, the flagship event of the Ulster Region will take place in the grass arenas at Balmoral Park.
Launching this year’s show, SJI chairman and show director Ray Buchanan welcomed everyone, particularly sponsors and officials, and paid tribute to those who set up the National Balmoral Championships. Buchanan’s enthusiasm for continuing the show is partly due to his enjoyment of “putting on a show for our sport and our members.”
With something to offer everyone, classes for all abilities are catered for in the four-day spectacular and all are welcome to attend.
Playing host to the latest leg of the TRI Equestrian NI & Baileys Summer Tour, the National Balmoral Championships will also see the show jumping elite battle it out in the seventh leg of the New Heights Champions Series, sponsored by TRM and Horseware Ireland.
Other feature classes includes the Pony Club Jumps Ahead Championships, Amateurs Dingo qualifier, Top Oils National Ladies Championship qualifier, and the 1.40m National Grand Prix, as well as hosting the first Interschools qualifier for the 2018 RUAS Balmoral Show in May.
The Tuesday will be Championship Day where in the aged classes, the four-year-old champion, the five-year-old championship and the six/seven-year-old champion will be crowned.
PONIES
Ponies will take centre stage on July 19th. Classes from 128 50cms to 148 1.20m will be run over the three arenas at the spacious Balmoral Park.
Hosting some of the SJI’s most prestigious national pony leagues, the National Balmoral Championships will provide qualifying opportunities in the Springboard Championship, Gateau Young Pony Series, Allianz Star Finder of the Future, Walter Reape Newcomers league, Equestrian World of Maynooth Under 8 and Under 10 Discovery Leagues and the Michael Morrissey National Pony League.
Entries for the Ulster Region TRI Equestrian and Baileys 1.35m Summer Tour, National 1.40m Grand Prix and New Heights Champions Series open with the SJI on Monday, July 10th and close 4pm on Thursday, July 13th.
Entries for the Pony Star Finder of the future will close 4pm Wednesday, July 12th. These entries must be made via the SJI declaration system complete with the €10 booking fee. Entries for all other classes are now open. Entry forms, as well as the full schedule, can be found on the Ulster Region website at www.ulstershowjumping.ie.