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Press Releases
March 2007
BALLYGRAFFAN INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS
Ballygraffan International Horse Trials are set to be bigger and better
in 2007.
They will still host the CIC* and CIC** classes but several changes are
afoot!
For a start the main action will take place on Saturday 28th April and Sunday 29th April rather than the Friday and Saturday of previous years. This is to prevent an overlap with Punchestown Festival and encourage more riders and spectators connected with racing.
Dressage and Show Jumping will take place on Saturday 28th with overspill Dressage on Friday 27th. Sunday will be Cross-Country day with competitors running in reverse order of the previous days placings as per Ballygraffan tradition.
The morning after last year’s event, international course designer Hugh Lochore was at work designing this year’s course and many changes have been made to both classes. There are twelve new fences in total and these have been expertly constructed by world- renowned course builders, The Willis Brothers, who have developed the course from scratch.
Of the 23 fences in the CIC*, competitors will have to negotiate several new questions including an imposing corner, log-on-mound, coffin, ditch and trakehner as well as jumping a reversed route through the water.
The CIC** course of 25 fences also incorporates a completely new water-jump combination, offset log –to-brush corner, viaduct wall and coffin. Several existing fences have been altered and Jims Cow Herd will be taking a prominent position in both classes.
Local craftsman, Hugh Simpson, has been carrying out ground works throughout the year. This has included further drainage work in the cross-country warm-up areas, additional all-weather take-offs and landings, tree planting, and ensuring that the ground will be in optimum condition for the event -- no small challenge with the difficult weather conditions. However the land is free-draining and sandy and can accommodate more rain than most courses. In the event of a heat wave, the course will be aggravated.
The Ground Jury has an international and local contingent comprising The Lord Carew, Vanda Stewart, David Lee and Jane Tolley who will also be judging this year at Badminton.
A television deal similar to last year's has been secured and Ballygraffan will have several airings on Sky TV and the American Horse Channel. It is also anticipated that local coverage will be forthcoming.
The Irish Training and Performance Team have asked the organizers to incorporate a Pony 'A' class and the CIC* courses will be adapted to accommodate this.
Due to the small number of competitors in previous years, it has been decided not to run a Sportsman 'A' class. However if there is sufficient demand, this decision can be reversed so any Sportsman riders who would like to compete at Ballygraffan should contact the Northern Region office.
A further fun attraction has been added. A fancy-dress charity fun run
will take place during the course change between the CIC* and CIC** classes.
This is the brainchild of local man Alex McKeag who is part of the Ballygraffan
team that helps the Willis Bros. to produce the course. This run has been
threatened for several years, but this year it is definitely on with Chest
Heart and Stroke as the nominated charity. In addition to Alex,
there will be around a dozen runners all of whom are connected with Ballygraffan.
It would be advisable to stand well back from the water jump when these guys are coming through!!
In response to requests, John McNally and Shackleton Crean Event Management will be offering Corporate entertaining opportunities and anyone who wishes to mix business with pleasure or who simply fancies the luxury of a fine lunch, wine, guest speakers and a sheltered viewing area after the exertions of walking the course should contact Jane McCarthy on 0044 7989 685 561.
Jane Doherty of Joyce Estate Agents has once again agreed to sponsor the very well received "Champagne and Truffles Prize Giving" and it is hoped that everyone who visits will stay to the end of the day.
So several changes this year at Ballygraffan are all for the better but the Ballygraffan recipe remains the same: -
"A welcoming and friendly atmosphere and a bold and challenging
course which send riders and spectators home with a smile and a sense
of achievement"
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