Lawrence Smyth RIP

THE Association of Irish Riding Clubs has paid tribute to Dr Lawrence Smyth who sadly passed away last Saturday, June 12th. Smyth, a member and chair of Donegal Gaeltacht Riding Club was also a member of the AIRC Board of Directors, the National Committee and a great friend of the Association. He was a great competitor, seen at many events up and down the country with his horse, Jenny’s Jigsaw. Among his many accolades is being named the AIRC Person of the Year in 2008 and Club Member of the Year in 2014. A former school teacher, he was named the Donegal Person of the Year in 1979 and played hurling for Donegal.

Laurence will be sadly missed by his loving wife Rosaleen; his family Greg, Chris and Patricia; brother Con and sister Mary, and many friends.

RDS cancellations

THE RDS National Championships showing qualifiers scheduled to take place this weekend in The Meadows Equestrian Centre and Maryville Stables have not had sufficient entries and have been cancelled. The respective qualifying slots scheduled to be filled this weekend will instead be consolidated with the qualifying places available at the last two qualifiers, at Galway Equestrian Centre on July 3rd and 4th, and Barnadown, Co Wexford on July 10th and 11th, which will now have twice the qualifying slots available. The RDS apologised to all competitors affected by the late notice.

Balmoral qualifiers

BALMORAL Show, due to take place at the Eikon Exhibition Centre from September 22nd to 25th, has released qualifying dates for their national show jumping classes. This year’s show will welcome a new Young Rider Championship while the six- and seven-year-old Championship has been split into two separate classes. International show jumping will not take place at the venue this year, but a national Grand Prix will be open to the top 35 riders who have declared expressions of interest. The Grand Prix will take place on Friday. Qualifiers begin on June 27th, see more information at www.balmoralshow.co.uk.

Win for Alexander Butler

MEATH’s Alexander Butler got off to a good start at the CSIO5* show in Sopot, Poland, on Thursday when he shared victory in the 1.50m speed class riding the Irish Sport Horse Pico (Chekhov PZK x Carrolls Flight) who was bred in Co Westmeath by Norman Allen and is owned by Timaskea Stud. Michael Blake had not named his team for tomorrow’s (Sunday) points-scoring Nations Cup as we went to press.

Events cancelled

A NUMBER of events have been cancelled this weekend as a mark of respect for the Hancock family after the tragic passing of Tiggy Hancock on Wednesday. Eventing Ireland has cancelled two days of eventing at Grove today (Saturday) and tomorrow (Sunday), while Sunday’s eventing championships at Killossery Lodge Stud is postponed. The Eastern Region Dressage has taken the decision to cancel the show on today in Marlton. The Carlow Hunt Branch of the Irish Pony Club has cancelled the Connolly’s Redmills One Day Eventing qualifier in Bunclody, the Wicklow Branch’s ODE in Rosanna is also cancelled tomorrow, as is the regional Tetrathlon training in Co Laois, and the Irish Pony Society spring show at Raheen Na Gun today.