THE Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix series is back for its 14th year, creating opportunities for horses and riders to compete at the top level. The series includes 14 legs, each at 1.35m, taking place at top equestrian venues and shows in the Munster region, beginning with Ballylawn Show on Sunday, April 30th and concluding in September.

Red Mills, along with their sister brand Foran Equine and Carr & Day & Martin, will provide prizes throughout the series and the final. Carr & Day & Martin will also shine a spotlight on the grooms who care for the horses by providing prizes at each leg for the grooms who look after the winning horse.

Head of equine marketing at Connolly’s Red Mills, Jane Davis, said: “We are thrilled to be back for another year of the Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix series. This series has become an integral part of the summer jumping calendar, and we are proud to support the development of talented riders and horses. We’re also delighted to have a leg of the series at Liskennett, all funds raised at the show will go towards the fundraising efforts that support the incredible facilities and supports that Liskennett provide for the service providers and their families.”

The 2022 Red Mills Munster Grand Prix Young Rider Champion, Robyn Moran said: “I did my first Red Mills Munster Grand Prix when I was 13 and won my first Grand Prix in 2018 when I was 15 with Coolminga Inspector Royal. He won two more in 2019 and went on to win the overall title and the Young Rider Title that year; this was very beneficial to me to get my name out there at such a young age. In 2020 Cushlas Fryday was just seven and he won the series and has now progressed to Premier level. It is great to have the series to bring horses along at this level.”

Liam O’Meara, reigning Red Mills Munster Grand Prix Champion, added: “I have had lot of success in the series over the years, I have been jumping horses in the in the series since it began in 2010, when I won the young rider title and won a bursary to Shane Sweetnam’s yard which was incredible experience. The series creates the perfect bridge between 1.30m and National and Premier Grand Prixes, it eases your seven-year-olds or green eight-year-olds up the levels and educates them with top-class fences, surfaces, and venues.”

Chairperson of Munster Showjumping, Tony Hurley, said: “We’re very grateful for the support of Connolly Red Mills over the last 14 years. We’re very proud of our series, I think last year the standard of jumping at all the legs was super with very good jump-offs. We’re fortunate in Munster to have great venues including seven all-weather and seven grass surfaces on the schedule for this season. Take the Doyle family out of it and we would have no Munster Grand Prix. Everything from the fences, the dressing, the filming of the rounds and all the work that goes on behind the scenes, we’re very grateful.”

More details are on the Connolly’s Red Mills website.