WHAT began as a four-day event almost 25 years ago, Cavan Equestrian will host its flagship Cavan Indoor Championships over six days next week from Tuesday to Sunday (September 17th-22nd next).
Some 3,000 entries from 700 horses will provide non-stop equine action for the expected 8,000 spectators.
The Clarke family and their team at Cavan Equestrian are pulling out all the stops, putting final preparations in place.
Classes ranging in size from 80cm to 1.40cm will take place as well as the Grand Final of the Cavan Classic Championships.
“We are delighted to be associated with the Cavan Crystal Hotel and Hankook, they both have been sponsoring at this event for many years and their support is very much appreciated,” said Stuart Clarke.
Foal sale
On Thursday evening at 7pm, the Elite Foal Sale of 25 pre-selected performance foals takes place in the main arena.
The foal selection day was held in mid-August in Cavan. Judges Tiernan Gill and Stuart Clarke saw 80 foals presented on the day and were impressed by many of them.
“Tiernan and I had a very difficult job in selecting just 25 of the 80 foals presented to go forward to the sale. The standard was really high with foals, not only by top sport horse stallions, but a large amount of them were out of proven mares that could boast decent competition records themselves, or were at least well connected to proven mares.
“There were a lot of really nice types and I think that the foals that did make the final cut will make for a very impressive sale line-up,” added Clarke.
The foal sale will be the first event of the show which will be available to view by Live Streaming. (See Sally Parkyn’s Elite Foal Sale preview on pages 104-105).
Feature classes
Friday night’s feature is the Cavan Indoor Derby. This class is unique as competitors jump from one indoor arena into another. Always an exciting class, this event offers a different type of competition as riders take on unusual obstacles and challenges.
After the Derby, Cavan will host an Auction Night in the bar. Many items have been donated ranging from hotel vouchers, Cladem Equi Store Hamper, Samshield Hat, a pallet of shavings, just to mention a few and proceeds will go towards sponsorship of the Grand Prix at the International Horse Show as well as the Kevin Babington Fund.
Show highlights
Next Saturday’s feature class, the Hankook Six and Seven-Year-Old Classic (at 7.30pm), is always a crowd-pleaser featuring top jumping from horses on the brink of their Grand Prix careers.
Past winners of this event have gone on to enjoy international careers. The 1998 winners, Rincoola Abu and Capt Gerry Flynn, enjoyed numerous international wins. The 2004 winner was Conor Swail who competed on Rivaal, a horse he sold which went on to compete at the Olympic Games. Other past winners include Clem McMahon and the late fabulous Pacino who went on to be a member of Ireland’s Aga Khan team at the Dublin Horse Show in 2012.
Sunday afternoon’s Cavan Crystal Five-Year-Old Classic offers a €6,500 prize fund and also boasts a number of impressive past winners.
Dermott Lennon’s World Championship-winning mount Liscalgot won the final in 1996 and Clem McMahon’s Pacino claimed the win in 2009.
Several others on the past winners roll have gone on to compete at an international level earning these classes their reputation as two of the most coveted prizes for a youngsters in Ireland. Course designers for the event are Germany’s Klaus Holle and Stuart Clarke.
The prize for the Leading Rider of the show is a €750 cash prize, kindly sponsored by Stable Lab, and the Leading Lady Rider prize is a €300 voucher, kindly sponsored by Kennedy Equi Style.
There will be full catering, bar and shopping facilities on site and all are welcome to Cavan for a great week of action.
CAVAN IN NUMBERS
6 days os show jumpin
700 horses
3,000 show jumping entries
8,000 spectators