HSI Pony High Performance Development Programme Autumn 2014

Following on from the success of the Irish Pony Showjumping team at the European Championships this year the High Performance Pony committee are delighted to announce plans to develop athlete / pony combinations aiming for European contention in 2015.

With this in mind two training days with Chef D’Equipe / Team Manager Mr Tom Slattery will be held at the National Sports Campus in Abbottstown, attendance at one or both of these days will be a requirement for inclusion on a development team to be sent to Neeroeteren in Belgium from 21.11.14 – 23.11.14.

Dates of training are as follows – Saturday the 4^th Oct or Sunday the 12^th Oct. Fee €50 per pony payable in advance.

The team to travel to Neeroeteren will be made up from the top two pony / athlete combinations from Cavan 148 Grand Prix and Pony Owners 148 Grand Prix, both to be held on 26^th October 2014.

It will be the combination which earns the place on the team and where either the athlete or the pony is unable to take their place it will move down the line up from the show at which the qualification took place.

An athlete may only qualify one pony for the development team.

This development team of 4 will each receive a bursary of €500 from the International Development and Travel Fund provided that the combination did not represent their country at the Europeans in 2014.

Horse Sport Ireland will pay the Team entries at Neeroeteren and Team Manager Tom Slattery will travel with the team.

It is envisaged that this new initiative will further enhance the structures put in place by HSI over the past six years, the success of which becomes more evident with each medal won.

**Please note, any competitors who do not take place in the scheduled training can still travel to the show, this system is in place purely to pick a development team to receive a bursary**

To book one or both training days and express your interest in travelling to Neeroeteren please contact Aileen Cartwright in HSI by phone 045 854530 or e mail acartwright@horsesportireland.ie by Friday 19^th September 2014.