It is with great regret that Tattersalls have announced that they are to withdraw from hosting and sponsoring the Tattersalls International Horse Trials. First established by the late George Mernagh in 2006, the annual event had become a popular feature in the international horse trials calendar.
Despite the tireless efforts of the Organising Committee and the generous support of the ‘George Mernagh Memorial Fund’ which was set up in 2012 following the death of George Mernagh, the commercial realities of staging such an event have proved insurmountable and the Trustees of the 'George Mernagh Memorial Fund’ have concluded that the Trust can best achieve its long term objectives of promoting youth participation in Irish equestrian sports by supporting a broader range of equestrian disciplines. Tattersalls will continue to host equestrian sports at the Tattersalls Ireland site in Fairyhouse. Several national events, as well as the successful July Horse Show, are already held at the venue. Tattersalls Chairman, Edmond Mahony, said: "I would like to thank our Organising Committee led by Jean Mitchell MBE, our various sponsors at all levels, and those who volunteered on an annual basis, for making the Tattersalls International Horse Trials an event of which the country could be proud. I would also like to thank the many owners and riders from all over the world who supported this event over many years. Sadly, due to the financial challenges that all of us are facing following the coronavirus outbreak, we regrettably feel unable to continue hosting such a large and costly international event, coming as it does in the middle of a very busy sales period for the company. I would also like to pay particular tribute to the Trustees of the ‘George Mernagh Memorial Fund’ without whose financial support this difficult decision would have inevitably come sooner. "I look forward to Tattersalls continuing to host equestrian events at Fairyhouse, including our successful July Show, which is run annually for the St. Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown. In the meantime, all of us involved in the Tattersalls International Horse Trials can look back with pride on what the event achieved in its 15 years and the contribution it has made to the sport of Eventing in Ireland." For further information please contact either Edmond Mahony on +44-1-638665931 or at [email protected] or Roger Casey on +353-1-886-4300 or at [email protected]. The NEXGEN Young Horse Series has been gratefully received by riders and owners following the first four qualifiers, with excitement about the final growing.
The inaugural series is the first of its kind in the UK and recognises the talents of four, five and six year olds across all three disciplines. With qualifiers at Keysoe, Richmond Equestrian Centre, Windmill Farm and Coombelands Equestrian Centre the series is set to culminate in an exciting final at Hickstead on 15/16 September 2020. NEXGEN judge, Richard Jones commented, “The courses are testing but fair and highly educational for young horses. It’s great to watch the horses grow in confidence from start to finish.” Internationally renowned competition horse producers, Tim and Antonia Brown added, “This really is a series for riders, run by riders and to bring all three Olympic disciplines together for the first time is a great initiative.” With qualifiers for Hickstead being hugely popular with both professional and amateur young horse producers, new qualifying dates have been added at Field House Equestrian, Cockshot Dressage and Sparsholt Equestrian. The events have been complimented as being efficiently run with a live scoring system straight after each individual round, which is set to be even more of a spectacle during the final. Uptown Eventing’s Rachel Wakefield, one of the founding Directors behind NEXGEN said, “We are delighted at how well the qualifiers has been received and have huge plans for the future of this series, which will continue to follow a very continental format.” The series which are partnered by Elite Stallions, Coldstream Equestrian, Baileys Horse Feeds, Equestriana and Custom Saddlery, introduces a list of additional prizes for riders, breeders and owners and is changing the pathway for all young horses in the UK for the future. “The horses have to grow in confidence from when they set foot in the arena”, NEXGEN’s Victoria Wright added, “we want to give them the best foundations to enable them to progress to the top levels of sport.” For more information go to www.nexgenhorses.com. Exciting innovative concept launched for recognising talented young horses
NEXGEN Young Horse Series is set to deliver an exciting new concept, recognising the talents of four, five and six year olds through a series of showcase events in the UK. For the first time, talented young horses and ponies from all three disciplines will be bought together under one roof in a series of five qualifiers, resulting in a final at Hickstead on 15/16 September 2020. The team behind this very continental format is Uptown Eventing’s Rachel Wakefield, Caunton Stud’s Victoria Wright, event rider Julia Dungworth and German dressage rider Martin Schleicher. Martin says “Having grown up with the Bundeschampionat in Germany, I have a real passion about the connection between breeding and sport. The NEXGEN Young Horse Series is an exciting new concept showcasing the top young horses of each Olympic discipline in the UK, in one place.” Julia is quick to point out that “a lot of hard work goes into breeding and working young horses. This series will go some way to recognise that and give both horses and riders a chance to prove their skills.” The format in each section sees the introduction of NEXGEN’S own unique scoring system that is individual for each discipline. Throughout the qualifiers and final, an illustrious list of judges awaits competitors along with a prize pot of nearly £15,000 The final for each discipline, which is to be held at The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, will be streamed live on ClipMyHorseTV giving competitors and equestrian enthusiasts the chance to catch all the action as it happens. “NEXGEN is a brilliant concept and something that's been missing in the UK for a long time. I'm excited to watch this event grow with a passionate team who will bring the UK's young horses to the forefront.” The series kicks off with the first qualifier at Richmond Equestrian Centre on the 31st July and is open to any four, five and six year old horses. The show jumping section of the series is being proudly supported by clothing brand Coldstream Equestrian, with other sponsors set to take the dressage and eventing sections respectively. When asked about this exciting new series, event rider Gemma Tattersall said "This is exactly what we need right now and I'm really looking forward to competing all my young horses in the Series." NEXGEN has also collaborated with British Breeding, allowing them to incorporate the Equine Bridge. The Bridge has replaced British Equestrian’s Pathway Programme and will enable any talented British bred combinations the chance to gain valuable training, veterinary and nutritional advice, along with financial support which is needed to see horses and ponies progress to the highest levels of sport. British Bred horse and rider combinations who qualify for Hickstead can opt to be selected at the final. |
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