THE Showjumpers Club announced that Connolly’s Red Mills are continuing their loyal sponsorship of the €30,000 Spring Tour for the fifth successive year.

The 14-round Spring Tour gets underway again this year at JAG Equestrian Centre, Co Kildare, on February 11th and concludes at the final at CoilOg Equestrian Centre on April 15th next.

The overall 2018 Red Mills Spring Tour Champion will take home an additional €2,000. After each round, Connolly’s Red Mills products will be awarded to the prize winners, including the leading groom. Additional product prizes have again been added with the top Young Rider of the Spring Tour also receiving one tonne of horse feed from Connolly’s Red Mills.

Foran Equine will sponsor the Pro-Am section in this year’s Spring Tour which allows the non-professional riders the chance to compete in a league of their own. Winning riders in this section will be eligible for prize money on the day as well as a product prize hamper.

Chairman of the Showjumpers Club Ronan Corrigan said: “We are again looking forward to this year’s Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour. It is sure to be another exciting league, as it is every year. It proves the value of the Tour when sponsors like Connolly’s Red Mills and Foran Equine who are very much global brands, continue with their support and sponsorship.

Chance to Shine

“It is so important that The Showjumpers Club continues to administer the tour and work with sponsors of the calibre of Connolly’s Red Mills and Foran Equine to ensure that the home National circuit is supported and developed for breeders, owners and the riders on a continuous basis.”

Sales and Marketing Director, Connolly’s Red Mills and Foran Equine, Gareth Connolly, said: “The Spring Tour for us forms a big part of our home support, creating a platform for the professionals, amateurs and the young riders. We have a precision nutrition approach, Connolly’s Red Mills on the feed and Foran Equine on the supplements, and to be able to support our customers across a series of 14 events and venues across the country makes perfect sense.”

The 2017 Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour Champion, Sven Hadley, said: “I got off to a great start last year. I have Sumas Taloubet over a year and a half now; the Red Mills Spring Tour really got him going last season winning three of the 14 legs. He then went on to be placed in a couple of the big classes in Balmoral as well as in a few National Grands Prix and finished the season with a trip to Liverpool, the Spring Tour was a great stepping stone for him. I think the Spring Tour is great for young horses, it’s not too big but it’s big enough. It’s also great for the older horses, that they can have a few smaller classes before stepping-up to National Grand Prix.”

The 2017 Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour Amateur Champion, Vicki Anderson, said: “That’s what is so great about having the amateur section of the Spring Tour, it gives people like me the chance to shine and it’s brilliant that Red Mills supplement partner Foran Equine are now on board.”