The 1998 Kerrygold Dublin Horse Show, cancelled last year because of the planned World Equestrian Games (which failed in the end to come to Ireland), will go ahead at the RDS Showgrounds from August 5th to August 9th.
At a reception to announce details of the show yesterday, the Royal Dublin Society's chief executive, Mr Shane Cleary, said over £1.5 million had been spent by it in preparation for the event. The work included new sand-rings on three acres, new stables and the renovation of the Shelbourne Hall. There had also been major renovation work carried out on the Anglesea Stand.
Mr Cleary said this would be the 125th Dublin Horse Show, first staged on the grounds of Leinster House in 1868, when the prize money was £520. This year, the prize fund would be a record £300,000. This had attracted international riders from 10 countries and almost 1,000 national exhibitors.
The Irish Dairy Board's public relations manager, Mr Aidan McCarthy, said this was the 10th year Kerrygold would be sponsoring the event.
"We first sponsored the show in 1989 in the belief that this world-renowned event would lend itself admirably to the further development of Ireland's only international food brand in the markets of the world.
"Many of the markets with whom we trade have a keen interest in show jumping, hence our original choice of sponsorship, and nothing which has occurred in the intervening years has led us to question that original decision."
He said the show would be on television worldwide to 200 million homes. This was very important for the dairy board which sold produce in 80 countries.
Mr McCarthy said over the 10 years, the Irish Dairy Board had spent £2.5 million sponsoring the show. As far as he could ascertain, that made it the longest-running sponsorship of such an event in the world.
Seven countries will compete in this year's Kerrygold Nations' Cup. Show jumpers from South Africa, the US and Portugal will compete as individual riders in the other 10 Kerrygold jumping competitions. The 1998 Kerrygold Grand Prix is the richest competition with a prize fund of £100,000.
There will be 88 showing classes for horses, ponies and donkeys, together with special parades and demonstrations. Some 1,540 horses, ponies and donkeys will be involved.