The Showjumpers Club are delighted to announce that Connolly’s RED MILLS have continued their long standing Sponsorship of the Spring Tour which gets underway again this year at JAG Equestrian Centre on February 11th. This is the fifth year of Sponsorship and support from the Kilkenny based Feed Company.
Over the duration of the 14 legs of Tour, riders will battle for over €30,000 in prize-money, with the overall 2018 RED MILLS Spring Tour champion taking home an additional €2000. After each round Connolly's Red Mills products will be awarded to the prize-winners including the leading groom at each event. Additional product prizes have again been added with the top Young Rider of the Spring Tour also receiving one tonne of horse feed from Connolly's Red Mills.
The Showjumpers Club are also delighted to announce that Foran Equine will sponsor the Pro-Am section in this year's Spring Tour which allows the non-professional Rider's the opportunity to compete in a league of their own. Riders who opt for the Pro-Am section will be eligible for Prize Money on the day but will also be eligible for a product prize hamper as part of the Pro-Am section at each leg of the Tour which are provided kindly by Foran Equine
Starting on February 11th at Kildare International, the 2018 Connolly’s RED MILLS Spring Tour will span the length and breadth of the country leading up towards the final at Coilog Equestrian Centre on April 15th.
Chairman of the Showjumpers Club Ronan Corrigan; ‘’we are again looking forward to this year’s Connolly’s RED MILLS Spring Tour. It is sure to be another exciting league, as it is every year. It proves the value of the Tour when sponsors like Connolly’s RED MILLS and Foran Equine who are very much global brands continue with their support and sponsorship.
It is so important that The Showjumpers Club continues to administer the tour and work with sponsors of the calibre of Connolly's Red Mills and Foran Equine to ensure that the home National circuit is supported and developed for Breeders, owners and the riders on a continuous basis.
This is very much the ethos of The Showjumpers Club who are currently looking at ways to further develop the Spring Tour and at ways to support and develop the sport for all stakeholders. We again thank our Tour Sponsors, Host venues, press and media and all competitors and owners who make The Spring Tour such a success”
Gareth Connolly, Sales and Marketing Director, Connolly’s RED MILLS and Foran Equine; “The Spring Tour for us forms a big part of our home support, creating a platform for the professionals, amateurs and the young riders. From a Connolly’s RED MILLS and Foran Equine perspective the home market is key for us and this partnership is about connecting the dots. We have a precision nutrition approach, Connolly’s RED MILLS on the feed and Foran Equine on the supplements and to be able to support our customers across a series of 14 events and venues across the country makes perfect sense.”
Sven Hadley, 2017 Connolly’s RED MILLS Spring Tour Champion; “I got off to a great start last year. I have Sumas Taloubet over a year and a half now; the RED MILLS Spring Tour really got him going last season winning 3 of the 14 legs. He then went on to be placed in a couple of the big classes in Balmoral as well as in a few National Grand Prixes and finished the season with a trip to Liverpool, the Spring Tour was a great stepping stone for him.
He's got a big stride, he has a great mind, he never gets hot so you can go quickly every week, he doesn’t take a lot of work at home so he can save his jumping for the ring. I think the Spring Tour is great for young horses, it’s not too big but it’s big enough. It’s also great for the older horses, that they can have a few smaller classes before stepping-up to the National Grand Prix.”
Vicki Anderson, 2017 Connolly’s RED MILLS Spring Tour Amateur Champion; “Zach is 14 this year, he’s only 15’2’ but he thinks he’s 17’2’ when he gets into the ring. He was brilliant last year, he’s jumped the RED MILLS Spring Tour the last few seasons but he really came into his own last year; there was no stopping him winning 7 legs. It’s a tough job, I get up before work to ride the horses and I get a lot of support from my Mom but when I am going in and jumping against the like of Sven and Mikey, the guys who are doing it full-time, that’s what I love and that’s what is so great about having the amateur section of the Spring Tour, it gives people like me the chance to shine and its brilliant that RED MILLS supplement partner Foran Equine are now on board.”