Day for the ladies at National Showjumping Championships

THE horses may be doing the jumping, but it will be the ladies who will be stepping out in style at the Ennis Showgrounds this Thursday.

The Showgrounds has been hosting the National Showjumping Championships this week, the first time the event has been held outside of Leinster, and organisers expect Thursday’s ladies’ day to be the highlight of the three-day event.
According to Jimmy Quinn of the organising committee, “So far the championships has been going very well and we’ve had some great feedback, particularly about the arena and fences, which is the most important element from the riders’ point of view. The championship is being held midweek and we are expecting that the busiest day will be Thursday, that is the day we are focused on as being the highlight. Ladies’ day should be a good draw and we are encouraging ladies to come out dressed up for their chance to be named best-dressed lady.”
The championships, which began on Tuesday, has drawn interest not only from all over Ireland but has attracted a number of English horses to the competition. Among the owners visiting the Ennis Showgrounds on Wednesday was well known rugby pundit, Tom McGuirk.
The competition, with a prize fund of €50,000, decides the National Ladies Championship, the National Speed Championship and the National Grand Prix Championship. The prizes will be presented on Thursday by Clarecastle’s George Horan, Dubai Duty Free president.
According to Mr Quinn, the decision of Showjumping Ireland to host the championships in Ennis is testament to the investment made in the grounds in recent years.