NOW in its 11th year, the Irish Breeders’ Classic returns to Barnadown Showjumping, Gorey, Co Wexford from September 1st to 4th next. A firm favourite on the Irish show jumping calendar, it is home to the world’s richest young horse class with a total prize fund in excess of €100,000.

The competition schedule includes a leg of the 1.40m Gain/Alltech National Grand Prix and the North Star 1.45m Grand Prix on Friday. The Irish Breeders’ Classic Finals for the five/six year olds and the seven/eight year olds will take place on Sunday. The four-year-old final and the five/six-year-old non-Irish final will take place on Saturday followed by IBC Select Foal Sale. Full details are available on www.irishbreedersclassic.com.

The 2022 event was launched recently in Barnadown with last year’s five/six-year-old Irish Breeders’ Classic winning rider Kevin Gallagher in attendance. The IBC was set up up in 2012 by Ronan Rothwell whose dream was to showcase Irish-bred horses and attract new investors to the sport.

2022 sees an increase of prize money in all classes, with support from Horse Sport Ireland and many more national and international sponsors. With record competition entries in 2021, the IBC look forward to an even bigger attendance this year.

Cian O’Connor’s Kilkenny and Bertram Allen’s Pacino Amiro are two graduates of the Irish Breeders’ Classic Final and were both selected to compete at Tokyo Olympics. Over the past 10 years, the competition has gained international recognition with other past graduates going on to perform at the highest level of the sport including MHS Going Global, Limestone Grey, Arrabeg Clover (silver medallist world young horse championships), Killossery Kaiden (gold medallist), and Columbcille Gipsy (gold medallist), BBS McGregor and Dawson’s Gold to name but a few.

Horse Sport Ireland chairman Joe Reynolds said: “Horse Sport Ireland is delighted to once again support the Irish Breeders’ Classic in 2022. Breeders are the backbone of the Irish equestrian industry and it is vital that they are recognised as such. The IBC presents an excellent platform to promote Ireland’s leading young show jumping horses. This year the IBC will see top class competition from Ireland’s leading young horses.”

Last year’s winner Kevin Gallagher said: “I was delighted to win last year. It was a fantastic show for us in Ballypatrick Stables and we look forward to this year’s show.”