RTE TV to broadcast extensive live coverage of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Series this summer

Horse Sport Ireland are delighted to announce that RTE TV are to broadcast live coverage of all-four of Ireland’s points-scoring rounds this season in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup, Europe Division 1 at Sopot (POL), Rotterdam (NED), Hickstead (GBR) and Dublin (IRL).

In a ground-breaking move that will give huge media exposure to Irish equestrian sport across Ireland, for the first time in history viewers will be able to follow the Irish Show Jumping team in Nations Cup action throughout the season on terrestrial free-to-air television.

Speaking after the announcement, Horse Sport Ireland Press Officer Brian Hennessy said:

“This is a project that we have been working on for a number of years and we were very close to reaching an agreement for the 2020 season before the Covid pandemic hit sporting fixtures across the globe. We are absolutely delighted that for the first time ever, 2022 will see live coverage on our national TV station of all-four of Ireland’s points-scoring rounds in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup series. Nations Cup Show Jumping is one the most exciting spectacles in equestrian sport and the Irish team has a proud and hugely successful record competing against the world’s top teams. It is incredibly exciting that all sports fans will now have the opportunity to watch our top equestrian athletes live on National TV this summer. It builds on the relationships we have developed with RTE, which included live coverage of the HSI Masters in 2020. I want to thank RTE and the FEI for working with us in Horse Sport Ireland to bring this project to fruition and I have no doubt that viewers will enjoy a brilliant summer of live equestrian sport.”

Horse Sport Ireland CEO Denis Duggan added:

“This is an extremely exciting development for the Irish Sport Horse industry. To have live primetime coverage of top level Nations Cup Show Jumping on Irish television screens for an extended period over the summer alongside other sports such as GAA, Rugby and Football, is exactly what our sport needs. It gives us the opportunity to showcase the tremendous talent of our human and equine athletes to a much wider audience. It will add another level of prestige to each of the competitions and I sure team manager Michael Blake, our athletes, owners and breeders will be excited to know that the Irish public are watching live on RTE back at home.”

Ireland’s first points-scoring outing in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Series will come at Sopot in Poland on Sunday June 12th 2022, with live coverage on the RTE News Now Channel from 1pm Irish time*. This will be followed by Ireland’s second outing at Rotterdam in The Netherlands on Friday June 24th with live coverage on RTE 2 television from 5pm*.

The action then moves to the famous All-England Jumping course in Hickstead (GBR) on July 29th. Ireland has won the FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain in Hickstead on five occasions since its first running in 1929 and last lifted the Edward, Prince of Wales Trophy in 2018. Live coverage of the 2022 Longines FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain from Hickstead on Friday July 29th will be shown on RTE 2 from 4.15pm*.

Along with live Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup coverage from Sopot, Rotterdam and Hickstead, RTE will once again broadcast extensive coverage of the Dublin Horse Show from the RDS, including the Longines FEI Nations Cup of Ireland for the Aga Khan Trophy, on Friday August 19th.

*Note times quoted are approximate. Confirmed broadcast times will be provided closer to the competition date.

Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2022
The Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ is equestrian sport’s most prestigious team challenge, with teams from around the world competing for one of the most coveted prizes in the Olympic discipline.

Celebrating 113 years of team competition in 2022, the Final will be held in the beautiful city of Barcelona (ESP), at the Real Club de Polo, where up to 18 teams will have the opportunity to battle it out to hold the prestigious Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ trophy aloft!