THE Baileys Horse Feeds flexi-eventing series may be over but it’s going to be busy again today at The Meadows Equestrian Centre on the outskirts of Lurgan.

There is unregistered ‘cash back’ show jumping, an afternoon of Derby classes (ranging from 70cms to 1m) and, in the morning, the first qualifier for this year’s Gibson Equine Haylage Balmoral Star of the Future performance horse championships.

The two championships on offer this year are for five-year-old horses and for six and seven-year-old horses. All entries must be Irish-bred with named passports which include identified sire, dam and damsire also microchip number and the name of the horse’s breeder. Riders must have attained their 16th birthday by January 1st this year.

The next qualifier in the series is scheduled for Hazeldene Farm on Sunday, March 19th. This will be followed by Wexford Equestrian on Wednesday, March 22nd, Gransha Equestrian on Saturday, April 1st and Lusk Equestrian on Easter Monday, April 10th.

Co Wicklow’s Gillian Kyle will judge all five qualifiers with Lt Col Tom Freyne filling that role at the final in the Main Arena on day three of Balmoral Show, Friday, May 12th.

Starter Stakes Series

Meanwhile, following the conclusion of its combined training league, the Western Region of Eventing Ireland is looking forward to the second running of its Eventing Starter Stakes Series which, this year, has title sponsorship from Sealac, the Kiltimagh-based seaweed supplement company.

The series commences tomorrow, Sunday, at Tubbebride Equestrian Centre. It then moves around the Region to Galway EC (March 12th), MilcheM EC (March 19th), Claremorris EC (March 26th) and Clare EC (April 2nd). The final will be held at MilcheM on Easter Monday, April 10th.

Five classes will be staged each week for four-year-old horses, five-year-old horses, six and seven-year-old horses, five and six-year-old ponies and thoroughbreds. The top four in each class will qualify but must complete one other leg in the series. Horses’ potential (not rider accuracy) will be judged in a simple dressage test while there will be inviting courses in both jumping phases.

Further details and the list of entries for tomorrow’s opening round can be found on the Region’s Facebook page.