HORSE Sport Ireland and the Irish Shows Association have launched a new National Showing Series in Moate, Co. Westmeath this evening (Thursday, June 16th).
 
The series, which will be called the ‘Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) National Showing Championship Series’ in association with the Irish Shows Association (ISA) will see over €20,000 in prize money being available to exhibitors in 2011.
 
The series will consist of ten championship finals taking place at ten of Ireland’s top rural shows. Beginning with the All Ireland Three Year Old Horse final in Bannow & Rathangan in County Wexford in July the series will end with the Irish Draught Filly Foal Championship in Ballinasloe, County Galway in October. There will be a total of 206 qualifying classes run around the country in the lead up to the finals.
 
Speaking at the launch, Horse Sport Ireland CEO Damian Mc Donald said that as well as providing funding for the series, Horse Sport Ireland were keen to increase the profile of the showing championships around the country.

“Qualifiers for these championships take place in every corner of Ireland at rural shows and are accessible to breeders. The shows are run on a voluntary basis with all the funding going directly to the exhibitors. Our vision is for these championships to become the Champions' League of showing,” he said.
 
Speaking on behalf of the Irish Shows Association, National Secretary Michael Hughes said: “The sponsorship of €20,000 from Horse Sport Ireland was a very welcome development indeed, particularly in the current economic climate, as the money goes straight to the exhibitors, who in very many cases are also the breeders”.
 
A full list of the championships included in the series is downloadable

HERE

.
 
For further information, please contact National Secretary of the ISA, Michael Hughes, on 0909 623945 or Catherine Farrell, Horse Sport Ireland on 045 854512 or email:

cfarrell@horsesportireland.ie

(L-R) John O’Hara, ISA National President, representing Bannow and Rathangan show, Elizabeth Freeman and Ann White and HSI CEO Damian McDonald.