EQUESTRIAN: The Show Jumping Association of Ireland relaunched its national championships in Dublin yesterday after a nine-year gap. Details of the new championships, which boast a €50,000 prize-fund that will be split between five competitions, were unveiled by the SJAI's national chairwoman, Patricia Furlong.

The Irish Horse Board has come in with a €5,000 package for owner and breeder prizes for the winners in each of the five categories - three young-horse divisions, a class for seven- and eight-year-olds and the Grand Prix - but no title sponsor has been found to date. It is hoped the promise of four-and-a-half hours of television coverage will ensure a title sponsor is in place before the three-day event gets underway at Barnadown, Co Wexford, in September.

Show-jumping stars were present at yesterday's launch in Dublin, including Edward Doyle, winner of the last national championships nine years ago when they were held in Ballinasloe, Co Galway.