Hurley hopeful of insurance premium reduction

Showjumping Ireland (SJI) chairman Tony Hurley is optimistic the work of its insurance taskforce will pay dividends and he is “hopeful” of a substantial reduction in the premium for next year.

The cost of insurance quadrupled to €625,000 this year due to two pending claims, resulting in a 25% rise in fees for membership and animal registration, along with an increase in show authorisation fees of 50%.

However, Hurley conceded also that SJI had left it too late last year to source insurance and the time constraint meant it was hampered in its ability to shop around. That cannot be said this year, he asserted, with the association acutely conscious a similar premium next year was unsustainable.