A GENEROUS prize fund of €60,000 supports the 2023 TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour, officially launched on Thursday, with the first round set for tomorrow (Sunday, February 5th) at JAG Equestrian, Co Kildare.

The TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour is vital platform to the majority of top national riders, young riders, and those aspiring to RDS qualifiers and European squad selection. This year’s Tour will begin as a 1.35m competition, rising to 1.40m for the April rounds.

TRM is now in its fourth year of sponsorship of the series where the winning combination of the Tour will take home €3,000, while the runner-up combination will collect €1,500 and third place €500. For the third successive year, the top young rider will be crowned the TRM Young Rider 2023 Ambassador.

Leading from the front

The managing director of TRM, Raoul Masterson, said: “TRM is delighted to once again support the TRM Spring Tour alongside The Showjumpers Club. As the leading equine supplement and healthcare company in Ireland, we feel strongly about supporting the Irish equine industry. The TRM Spring Tour offers riders and horses a superb opportunity to start the year on the right foot and compete at 14 excellent venues across 16 legs, for good prize money. We look forward to following the series and of course welcome yet another leading young rider into the TRM roster of sponsored riders.”

Chairman of The Showjumpers Club, Ronan Corrigan said: “The Showjumpers Club, and the greater industry, are delighted that TRM have once again agreed to support this most important Tour which is one of the pillars of the Irish show jumping calendar. This year will see an increase in the prize funds as the Tour goes on and an increase in fence height for the April rounds. We are welcoming new venues on board for 2023. We once again thank TRM for their continued support of the sport and industry where they are firmly established as being one of the largest sponsors and supporters in the sport horse and show jumping sectors.”

Kildare international rider Edward Doyle commented: “The TRM Spring Tour is brilliant for us because otherwise the older horses would not see a proper show until the end of March or April after finishing in December, so it is great to get them up and running at that level. You can train all you want but you need competition and, without this Tour, that would not happen. It’s very important for the owners to be able to go to these fabulous shows and see their horses competing rather than just training shows.”

Waterford international rider Paddy O’Donnell added: “This Tour is integral to our sport. TRM has been associated with the sport and the Spring Tour for so long and the quality of the products TRM make is fantastic. So many good horses have started in the Spring Tour over the years which dovetails into the RDS qualifiers, so when the qualifiers for Dublin come around, your horses are ready for that. This Tour is very important to us.”

Platform for talent

The last number of years, under the TRM banner, has seen more top young female riders coming through the Tour with Emma McEntee and Robyn Moran lifting the titles, as well as the valuable TRM Ambassador packages, with both now competing at international level.

Conor Swail, Jack Ryan, Daniel Coyle, Mikey Pender, Jason Foley, Conor Drain, Francis and Kate Derwin, and Matt and Luke Garrigan all started their Grand Prix careers in the Spring Tour before going on to compete internationally, some at Nations Cup level.

Horses who began their successful careers in the Spring Tour include Larkhill Cruiser, MHS La Scala, Uptown Girl, Cuffesgrange Cavadora, Castlefield Vegas, AHG Whiterock Cruise Down, Rincarina, Mrs Quinn, Hallowberry Cruz, Dothraki Warlord and HHS Calais.

Tour dates and venues on www.sji.ie are:

February 5th JAG Equestrian

February 12th Cavan Equestrian

February 19th Broadmeadows EC

February 26th Cavan Equestrian

March 4th Wexford EC

March 5th Tippeary Equestrian

March 11th The Meadows

March 12th Killossery Lodge

March 17th Warrington EC

March 19th Cavan Equestrian

March 26th Maryville Stables

March 26th Kernans EC

March 29th Riverlodge EC

April 2nd Barnadown

April 9th Mullingar Equestrian

April 16th Coilog EC (Final)