This highly anticipated Championship show returns to Balmoral Park for it’s 31st show celebrating talent from across the country. This year there will be a few changes noted to the traditional format. Sunday 14th July will host all pony classes including championships which had previously been held on the final day of this championship event.
Photo Left: Fiona Carson from National Balmoral thanking Denise McCluskey from Michele International for her generous sponsorship of the 4 year old Championship.
Monday 15th July will now be the first day of show jumping for horses and will also hold all Ballyward Equestrian Ulster Region classes. The 1.30m will be the second class in the main Balmoral arena with sponsors Abbey Upholstery who have supported the show for many years. Smyth Sport horses will be congratulating the highest placed 6/7 year old section rider as competitors battle for those all important qualifying spaces for Wednesday’s prestigious Championship class.
Following feedback from previous years, the amateur classes will both be held on Monday afternoon. The first of those kindly sponsored by Maddybenny Livery yard and Camp Site, is the Ulster Region Points cup which has been a very popular league this year. If that wasn’t enough, it also incorporates a Farmers Journal A Championship qualifier, not to mention qualifying those placed riders for Wednesday’s championship final on Wed 17th July. The second amateur class on Monday afternoon will be the Horseware Ireland Super League, with it’s jump-off promising an exciting finish to the day and Horseware sponsored prizes to the value of £200.
Tuesday 16th July will begin once again with a 1.20m class, kindly sponsored by Barclay Communications. This class will also incorporate a 1.20m young riders section kindly sponsored by Billy Adrain who will be presenting a rug to the highest placed young rider. Tailored Equestrian will be congratulating the highest placed 5 year old combination with an embroidered rug and rosette, and will also be available throughout the show once again with a trade stand packed full of their competition wear items.
The feature class of the day will be the Underwriting Exchange National Grand Prix sponsored by Carson Coldstores for National Balmoral, which will then be followed by an exciting 1.30m speed class, kindly sponsored by Mulvin Stables.
Eileen Carlin from E.C.Rugs will also be available throughout the show in the trade stand area to take delivery of rugs for wash, repair and waterproofing. They will also be on hand for advice on the best care for rugs and have kindly agreed to sponsor the 1m championship class on Tuesday afternoon.
The third class on Tuesday is the 1.10m Championship which will take place in the Horse Rings Arena. It is kindly sponsored by R Barkley & Sons who will be presenting an embroidered rug and rosettes to the placed riders in this prestigious class.
The Horseware Ladies National 1.10m, and the Michele International Sponsored 4 year old championship will be the final classes in Tuesday’s schedule.
Wednesday 17th July will be the main championship day, with the 1.20m young riders taking centre stage first in the main arena kindly sponsored by CIP Insurance who are celebrating the opening of their new office in Portadown with this generous sponsorship. The winner of this class will also receive the Laura Robinson Memorial Cup.
The TRM/HSI New Heights 1.50m Grand Prix promises to deliver the country’s best in an impressive spectacle to compete for a prize fund of €9,000 on Wednesday 17th as part of the overall €100,000 league prize fund. The prestigious Giltspur Trophy in memory of Stephen Logan will be presented on the day to the winner of this class. Roxborough Ltd have also generously committed to sponsor this class for National Balmoral. Spectator numbers are expected to climax for this highly anticipated highlight of the show.
Championship day in the main arena will close with the KEC Amateur championship for qualified combinations from Monday afternoon. The second arena will commence at 8.30am with an action packed 1.20m championship sponsored by McFadden Civils Ltd who are keen supporters of Show Jumping in Ulster. A new perpetual trophy in memory of the late Mrs Vera Frazer will also be awarded, therefore the winner of this 1.20m class will be the first to receive it. The 1m championship will follow in this arena with qualified combinations from Monday and Tuesday’s qualifiers battling it out for a highly coveted National Balmoral Championship title presented by Harold Lusk of Lusk Horse Transport. The winner will also receive the Catriona Irwin memorial cup from Sandra Irwin. The popular 1.10m championship is sponsored by Wyse Byse and will be the final class of the day in the horse rings arena.
For more information on the event, please visit www.ulstershowjumping.ie where entries, schedules, start lists sponsor and general show information will be available over the the next few weeks.