THIRTY-seven national events affiliated to Eventing Ireland were held during 2022, starting with the first of two fixtures at Blackstairs in Co Wicklow on Saturday, March 19th and concluding with the third of three events at Punchestown on Saturday, October 8th. There were 11 cancellations during the season.

Most disappointingly, there was just one event in the North Leinster Region, that at Tattersalls on Sunday, August 21st, which clashed with the final day of the Dublin Horse Show, while, having run a very successful eventing starter stakes league in the spring, the Western Region’s plans for a try eventing day in 2022 came to nought.

EI attracted a total membership of 1,200 this year of whom 470 were non-riding members such as owners. Other three-figure categories were senior owner/riders (205), Junior riders (135) and Pony riders (115). Roughly, 20% of the membership were new to EI while 14% were lapsed members (i.e., hadn’t been a member for two or more years).

On the equine front, the breakdown of horses was as follows: those with 51 points or more, 125; 21 to 50 points, 85; one to 20 points, 50; those on zero points, 425; restricted, 270. There were 150 ponies registered with EI during 2022.

Apart from the home international events, there were limited competitive opportunities for the highest graded horses in this country with just eight fixtures, including the National Championships at Lisgarvan House in September, staging EI120 classes.

Twice during the season, Castle Irvine, Necarne lost out on entries for its EI120 classes as similar competitions were held the following days at Ballindenisk (1) in May and Kilguilkey House (2) in August. As it costs organiers a lot of money to stage these classes, such clashes would be best avoided from a financial as well as competitive aspect.

With increasing opposition from unaffiliated events, which mainly attract a dedicated, local following, EI introduced training classes in July and roughly 8% of total entries from that point were for these classes, the results of which were removed from the website each following Monday. EI has scheduled more training classes for 2023 and has also introduced Grassroots Championships for next season at EI80, EI90 and EI100 levels.

Wexford's Patrick Whelan and Altitu pictured at the WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses at Le Lion d'Angers \ EquusPix Photography

Support

Horse Sport Ireland continues to support the sport in this country through sponsorship at international and national events, plus young event horse classes and championships. While it was good to see other established ‘names’ such as Connolly’s Red Mills remain on board for 2022, there were also 15 new sponsors during the season.

The ‘States Centre’ on the EI website provides a huge amount of information and, at a quick, first glance two names jump out, those of Patrick Whelan and Ian Cassells both of whom saw out their 2022 seasons competing at the world breeding championships at Le Lion d’Angers in October when Cassells fared much the better.

Taking his international performances into account, Cassells topped the list of the top 10 Irish riders in 2022. However, Co Wexford-based Whelan was the busiest, and most successful home-based rider with his 112 outings resulting in 19 wins.

He recorded 102 clear cross-country rounds, of which 61 were completed within the time, while he finished on his dressage score 34 times.

Second to Whelan in all those categories, Newcastle, Co Dublin rider Cassells fared marginally the better when it came to show jumping clears as he recorded 58 to Whelan’s 54.