Emer Bermingham

CONFUSION over the rules surrounding sponsorship of young rider and children on horses qualifiers for the RDS Dublin Horse Show is set to cost Showjumping Ireland in the region of €30,000, it has emerged.

The show jumping association had signed three-year contracts with sponsors for the RDS qualifiers and the finals at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show but it has been revealed that the agreements put in place cannot be upheld.

Sponsorship deals with two companies, Bluegrass Horse Feed and Holmestead Saddlery, were brokered by Showjumping Ireland on the understanding that the deals would include the RDS finals.

However sponsorship of the Dublin finals is decided solely by the RDS under an agreement with Showjumping Ireland, a fact which only came to light after all four RDS qualifiers were recently completed.

Fiona Sheridan, spokesperson for the RDS told The Irish Field: “Gallagher/Meller E2 Show jumpers signed a three-year contract in 2014 to sponsor the young rider competitions for the Dublin Horse Show.

Botanica is the new sponsor for the children on horses in 2015, this competition was sponsored in 2014 by Larkin Brothers International.”

Michael Blake, Showjumping Ireland’s young rider and junior committee chairman said: “It is regrettable that this situation has arisen. The young rider committee has in the past and continues to have an excellent working relationship with Holmestead Saddlery, as is evidenced in Holmestead Saddlery’s support of our upcoming pony and young rider championships.

“Holmestead Saddlery has very generously come on board to sponsor our 1.30m and1.35m National Championship series and Grand Prix in addition to the team events for all height categories of young riders. I would like to thank them sincerely for their continued support of our sport.”

Speaking earlier in the week, Bill Holmes and Mags Heffernan MD of Holmestead Saddlery said: “We have been shocked and saddened to discover that our sponsorship of the Holmestead Young Riders competitions finals at the RDS has been cancelled this week. Holmestead has a three-year contract with Showjumping Ireland, the governing body of the sport.

“Thousands of euro worth of prizes has been awarded at four regional qualifier events, which were promoted as Holmestead qualifiers for the final at the RDS. There was no breach of contract by Holmestead, no problems or issues with SJI and the sponsorship deal was standard practice which the company had done many times in the past with SJI for the same events. Holmestead has been involved with sponsoring and exhibiting at the RDS for over 30 years and all sponsorship was always done through SJI, as is the pony jumping.”

Chloe Hoyle, sales and marketing administrator with Bluegrass Horse Feed also expressed her disappointment: “Bluegrass Horse Feed was immensely proud to have committed to a three-year partnership that would have seen the company sponsor the children on horses at Ireland’s premier equestrian showcase, the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

“The confusion which has led to this announcement is very disappointing to the whole team at Bluegrass who were looking forward to supporting the children on horses athletes, the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show and the industry as a whole.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Showjumping Ireland for the professional manner in which they have managed this disappointing development. We would further like to wish all the children on horses athletes the very best of luck, ‘we will still be on the sidelines cheering you all on.”