Last year the popular HitAir O/CNC2* League saw a total of 52 combinations enter, averaging 15 horse/rider combinations in each leg. Last year’s winner was International rider Katie O’Sullivan.

HitAir will be sponsoring a five leg series, which starts at Tyrella 1 on 30 March. HitAir will be supplying additional prizes at the end of each leg and the overall series winner will receive a HitAir Vest worth €495 plus rug and saddle cloth.

The full list of venues is as follows: 2013 Dates

Venues

30 March

Tyrella 1 (NR)

5 May

Kedrah Castle 1 (MR)

9 June

Glandoran (SL)

30 June

Ballinamona 2 (MR)

18 August

Annaharvey 2 (SL)

Rachel Faulkner from Hit Air commented ““This is our second year to sponsor the HitAir O/CNC2* and we are delighted to once again be part of the series. Last year there was great interest in the league and we hope that this year it will be equally as competitive. Sponsoring the league gave us the opportunity to meet our Irish customers and we hope to make some trips over to Ireland once again. The HitAir vest has grown hugely popular in Ireland, with some big names such as and Mike and Trish Ryan and Sam Watson wearing the vests. We are delighted to give something back in the way of sponsorship to eventing in Ireland”.

Georgia Stubington, Eventing Ireland Chairman said “Eventing Ireland is once again very grateful to HitAir of their support of the O/CNC2* classes. We are all aware safety is a hugely important and I am delighted to be working with Hit-Air once again”.

We wish all our competitors luck with the series, our venues for supporting the league and thank our sponsors for their support.

Full details of the HitAir O/CNC2* Series can be found on the Eventing Ireland website www.eventingireland.com

Watch this video demonstration of the Hit-Air Pro Vest with Mike Ryan while competing at Ballindenisk.

Hit-air provide leading-edge shock buffering protection to the neck, spine, lower back, chest and vital organs when inflated. The inflation is automatically triggered in the event of a fall, when the horse and rider become parted. They are renowned for safety and reliability in the rest of Europe and the US and were only recently introduced to the UK and Ireland to great acclaim. The Hit-air Pro vest was recently awarded 5* in Eventing Magazine.

Riders who use the Hit-Air vest include the Olympic Event Gold Medalist Phillip Dutton “I am really excited about the new technology of the Hit-Air vest. I have researched other protection on the market and believe that Hit-Air is the best. I feel confident that I will be more protected when I fall and believe that this is the way of the future.”

Sam Watson, 4* event rider recently stated, ‘Until I saw the Hit Air I had no desire to ride in an air jacket. However, the Hit Air is so light and unobtrusive that I literally don’t realise that I’m wearing it. ……. I was shocked by the extra protecion from the Hit-air and how much it cushioned my fall. I never want to fall without my Hit Air again…there’s too much at stake!’

The unique features of the Hit-Air vest include:

- Enhanced neck protection. The patented popper design helps to prevent hyper extension, whiplash and other associated neck injuries.

- The Hit-Air vest has integral ribcage airbags which provide unique shock buffering protection to the ribcage, helping to protect vital organs in the event of a fall.

- Supporting, shock buffering protection to the spine, from neck to lower back.

- The only outwardly inflating air vest, enabling hit-air to be worn neatly over the body or body protector. The outward inflation is crucial as it removes the possibility of winding during the inflation process, making it safe for riders with pre-existing chest conditions.

- Unique internal adjustments mean that the same air vest can be worn over a t-shirt in the summer or over fleeces and jackets in the winter.

Protection for all equestrian disciplines

At last, body protection that people can wear every time they ride without even feeling it!
Hit-air have also been instrumental in opening up the market to equestrians of all disciplines from hunters, people breaking youngsters, schooling at home or simply hacking out.

Children and adult sizes are available so visit www.hitairuk.co.uk to find your nearest stockist.