TREO EILE are excited to announce the launch of their Christmas Pro-Celebrity Showjumping Fundraiser at the Emerald Equestrian Centre on Thursday 15th December.
The event will showcase the very best of Ireland’s retrained racehorses who will compete on teams of four in a timed competition, starting at 6pm. A jockey will captain each team, with two professional riders alongside who will be riding a variety of former racehorses, many of whom have competed on Ireland’s racetracks for trainers such as Jessica Harrington and Joseph O’Brien. The fourth team member will be a talented young pony rider. All riders will jump a track of 15 fences with fastest completions winning the coveted Horse Racing Ireland Perpetual Trophy and a variety of gifts from class sponsor Connollys Redmills.
The competition has attracted some of the racing industry’s brightest stars including Davy Russell and Patrick Mullins, whilst former champions Robbie Power and Nina Carberry will also be lining out for the big event under the lights of the Emerald Equestrian Centre near Johnstown Bridge in Co Kildare. Professionals include international riders Patrick Whelan, Sarah Wardell and Gillian Beale King, all of whom are renowned for campaigning former racehorses successfully in other disciplines such as eventing or showjumping.
Last year’s inaugural event fell to the all-female team headed by Katie Walsh who rode the Irish Grand National winner General Principle. The former Gordon Elliott pupil scored an impressively quick clear round and has been very busy since with former groom Seanin Mahon excelling in the show ring on the handsome bay. The highlight for the pair being an emphatic victory in the Racehorse to Riding Horse class at the RDS in August.
Hosts for the annual event include Racing TV’s Kevin O’Ryan who commented:
“This fundraiser is such a fun evening and includes the very best humans and equines from both the racing and sports horse industries. It underlines just how easy it is to retrain a former racehorse into a very decent competition horse which is the whole purpose of evening. There are now lots of opportunities for retiring racehorses to transition from the track and Treo Eile’s program encourages their participation. We are looking forward to another fun evening, testing the horsemanship of the competitors.”
The event is preceded by the Moyglare Stud Parade of Champions where Tiger Roll, Douvan and Hurricane Fly will headline and be shown in hand. The opportunity for a ‘selfie’ with the stars could also make some dreams come true so be sure to book your tickets in advance at www.itsps.org/te.
ENDS.
