Next month's Millstreet indoor international is under threat of a boycott by the world's top riders, who have issued an ultimatum calling for a minimum prize fund of £100,000 for the three main classes at World Cup qualifying shows. Millstreet's purse for the entire show is just £90,000 and members of the International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) have already boycotted last weekend's show in Oslo and are also refusing to jump in Helsinki this weekend.
Under a new World Cup formula, which was first tried out in Oslo, World Cup shows are now running a qualifier on the Friday night for Saturday's World Cup class and only the top 20 get through to the feature event. Riders are also expected to turn out for the final day's Grand Prix and the IJRC have now written to all World Cup shows demanding a £100,000 pay-out for these three classes or a no-show from their membership.
The former European champion, Peter Charles, who represents the IJRC on the World Cup committee, is jumping in Liege this weekend and is hoping to hold talks with some of the top riders in a bid to force a change of heart.
Eddie Macken and Cruising are due to make their first appearance in front of an Irish audience at Millstreet, but unless agreement is rapidly reached, the start list in Cork looks destined to be less than star-studded.
