THE Irish Pony Society, which caters for pony-showing enthusiasts as opposed to showjumping, yesterday announced a £20,000 package designed to increase public awareness of the Society and boost membership.

The IPS Classic championship, which boasts an £18,000 prize fund over the next three years. still has no sponsor, but IPS officials say that funding will be covered by the Society itself if necessary.

"We have no sponsor signed up as yet," IPS chairman Dave Errity said at yesterday's Dublin launch, "but we have three possibilities, one of which is very live. But the IPS will fund the Classic if needs be; why have money in the bank doing nothing for us?"

The Classic championship covers five pony categories and 21 separate classes, with qualifiers run at up to 120 IPS affiliated shows leading up to the three-day IPS championship fixture at the RDS in August.