Tattersalls event gets go-ahead

TATTERSALLS IRELAND managing director George Mernagh was delighted and relieved yesterday to say the Meath venue’s international horse trials will go-ahead this year, but conceded that failure to save it would have dealt a huge blow to Ireland’s equestrian reputation.

Speaking a day after announcing the World Cup event would not become the latest victim of the recession, Mernagh said cancellation would have been devastating for the sport here.

“To not go ahead would have been very damaging to Ireland’s standing. Unfortunately, however, the economic downturn as highlighted by the huge falloff at Tattersalls November sales, meant there was no way we could go ahead as planned. So, we had to pull out all the stops to secure funding. We are very fortunate to be able to run it and, ultimately, it was down to Horse Sport Ireland (HSI), Eventing Ireland [which put up 20,000] and the support of individuals, who want to remain anonymous,” said Mernagh, as he confirmed the prizefund would be less than last year’s 79,000.