THE Organising Committee of the International Horse Trials at Necarne Castle, Co. Fermanagh, announced today (Tuesday) that, for financial reasons, the event would not run in 2010.
The statement issued by Event Director Jean Mitchell said: “Having successfully hosted FEI European Eventing Championships at Young Rider [1999] and Junior [2006] levels, and the Pony European Championships in Dressage, Eventing and Jumping in 2003, as well as two FEI Level 2 Educational Seminars it would seem that there are not now the numbers of competitors which are required to make this event financially viable, in the present economic climate.
“For the past three years, sponsorship has virtually dried up, and we have been working on the good will of many of our suppliers. In 2009 they gallantly continued to support us, by reducing their fees, when they saw that we were likely to have a shortfall in the income.
“However, without a viable number of total entries, and knowing that British Eventing have now approved a CCNP** class at Weston Park at the beginning of October for their ponies, which like their Juniors and Seniors, will mean much less expensive travelling costs, we cannot see that the position will be any better [and probably worse] in 2010.”
She added that throughout the past 15 years, the Organising Committee had had “the amazing support of the councillors and staff of Fermanagh District Council along with the Head of Enniskillen Campus and his staff, at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise [CAFRE]. Between them they made sure that we had every possible facility, and help, to present Necarne Castle year after year, in pristine condition, enabling us to run world class International events.”
She concluded: “Last, but certainly not least, the Organising Committee would like to thank the “Necarne Castle Volunteers” – of which there are many hundreds – who have dedicated their time and energy to ensuring that Necarne Castle International Horse Trials have been run professionally, efficiently and, most importantly, with a warm and friendly atmosphere, for the past 15 years.”