Apr, 2023
The Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix series is back for its 14th year, creating opportunities for horses and riders to compete at the top-level. The series includes 14 legs, each at 1.35m, taking place at top-class equestrian venues and shows in the Munster region, beginning with Ballylawn Show on 30th April.
The Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix series is a stepping stone for horses, allowing them to obtain experience and exposure at highly competitive events. The series has a long-standing tradition of producing top-class riders, and this year is set to be no different. Riders from across the country will converge on Munster to compete in the series.
RED MILLS along with their sister brand Foran Equine and Carr & Day & Martin will provide prizes throughout the series and the final. Carr & Day & Martin will also shine a spotlight on the grooms who care for the horses’ day-in-day-out by providing prizes at each leg for the grooms who look after the winning horse.
Commenting on the launch of the series, Jane Davis, Head of Equine Marketing at Connolly’s RED MILLS, said: “We are thrilled to be back for another year of the Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix series. This series has become an integral part of the summer jumping calendar, and we are proud to support the development of talented riders and horses. We look forward to seeing the best of Irish showjumping talent on display. We’re also delighted to have a leg of the series at Liskennett, all funds raised at the show will go towards the fundraising efforts that support the incredible facilities and supports that Liskennett, provide for the service providers and their families”.
2022 RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix Young Rider Champion, Robyn Moran said; “I have had a great record in the series over the last few years. I did my first RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix when I was 13 and I won my first Grand Prix in 2018 when I was 15 with Coolminga Inspector Royal, he won two more in 2019 and went on to win the overall title and the Young Rider Title that year; this was very beneficial to me to get my name out there at such a young age. In 2020 Cushlas Fryday was just a 7yo and he won the series and has now progressed to Premier level. It is great to have the series to bring horses along at this level. There is a lot of great riders jumping in the series, you can get a bit star stuck jumping against these great riders like Francis Connors, it’s a great buzz. The height of the series is very important, at 1.35m it’s great for horses that are being produced up along from 6yos, it gives them that bit more experience. I have plenty of horses for this year’s series and I am looking forward to it.”
Liam O’Meara, reigning RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix Champion; “I have had lot of success in the series over the years, I have been jumping horses in the in the series since it began in 2010, when I won the young rider title and won a bursary to Shane Sweetnam’s yard which was incredible and a great experience. I think I had one of the only 6yo to win a Grand Prix, Mr. Cool Calm, he went on to do great things after. It was extra special to win the RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix last year, I had been on the side-lines for the previous year having had a bad accident and an operation on my back. I was hungry for jumping last year, I didn’t know the year before if I would ride properly again and it was incredible to comeback and then win the series. It’s a very competitive series, it’s great for riders and horses; it teaches them to go against the clock, eventually every horse will have to go fast and with this series you can experiment away and step up a horse up or step down a horse down. The series creates the perfect bridge between 1.30m and National and Premier Grand Prixes, it eases your 7yos or green 8yos up the levels and educates them with top-class fences, surfaces, and venues.”
Tony Hurley, Chairperson of Munster Showjumping said; “We’re very grateful for the support of Connolly’s RED MILLS over the last 14 years. We’re very proud of our series, I think last year the standard of jumping at all the legs was super with very good jump-offs. We’re fortunate in Munster to have great venues including 7 all weather and 7 grass surfaces on the schedule for this season. We really missed the agricultural shows during COVID and its super to be back at these shows, the big crowds create a great buzz and take the Doyle Family out of it and we would have no Munster Grand Prix, everything from the fences, the dressing, the filming of the rounds and all the work that goes on behind the scenes, we’re very grateful.”
The series kicks off on April 30th At Ballylawn and runs until September, with each of the 14 legs offering a highly competitive environment for riders and horses. The venues for each leg have been carefully selected to provide a varied and challenging competition for competitors.
| 2023 League Dates | |
| Date | Venue |
| 30th April | Ballylawn Show |
| 3rd May | Garranemore |
| 14th May | Sceilig |
| 21st May | Liskennett |
| 11th June | Killeagh |
| 16th June | Cork Show |
| 21st June | Kilfarrasy |
| 24th June | Charleville |
| 2nd July | Clonmel |
| 9th July | Dungarvann |
| 15th July | Maryville |
| 29th July | Munster Region |
| 7th Aug | Aglish |
| 27th Aug | Dulla |
| Tipperary | TBC |
| Hollypark | TBA |
| Cork/ Kerry | TBA |
| Banteer | TBA |
| Previous League Winners | |
| Year | Overall Winner |
| 2022 | Liam O’Meara |
| 2021 | Robyn Moran |
| 2019 | Robyn Moran |
| 2018 | Francis Connors |
| 2017 | Francis Connors |
| 2016 | Paul Beecher |
| 2015 | Francis Connors |
| 2014 | Francis Connors |
| 2013 | Francis Connors |
| 2012 | Seamus Hayes |
| 2011 | Seamus Hayes |
| 2010 | Ger O’Neill |
