Showing Northern Ireland Festival, South of England Spring and more
A working hunter rider continues her winning ways on home soil, while sibling show horses prove the worth of certain bloodlines
WITH two £1,000 prize funds on offer, jumping competitors had it all to play for in the working hunter supreme crownings at the 2018 Northern Ireland Festival (NIF).
Bagging the supreme working hunter pony accolade and the first £1,000 cheque was Amber Marnane riding Danny’s Pride (Danny). This combination had been on tremendous form over the weekend, the pair racking up several wins and adding the Connemara and supreme pony titles to their winning tally.
Amber is just a few months into her partnership with her
mother Mel’s nine-year-old grey gelding, and this was their first big outing.
As her father is flat trainer David Marnane, Amber makes full use of the gallops when she can.
“Moving up on to Danny from a 13hh worker has been a big step for me,” said Amber, aged 14. “He’s a bold jumper, but he is the kindest pony who gives me lots of confidence.”
LASZLO ON FORM
LOUISE LYONS and MJM Laszlo scored end-to-end working hunter victories, first in the Cuddy Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifier with the only clear on the opening day, then she followed that with a victory in the NIF 1.10m class on the final afternoon.
Paulette Cooper’s Classic Vision eight-year-old then impressed a panel of judges under the lights to clinch the £1,000 Festival supreme working hunter horse championship.
“He loves an outdoor ring and even enjoyed the mud this afternoon. However, when rain forced the HOYS qualifier indoors, he shortened up and coped well with the twists and turns,” said Louise who, less than a week before, qualified Laszlo for the Royal International with a win on English soil at (NPS) Area 5.
Ireland-based Louise, whose sister is well-known working hunter rider Kelly Ward, bought Laszlo five years ago and after giving him a few eventing outings, sold him to Paulette Cooper.
“The champion jumped well indoors and out,” said HOYS ride and supreme judge Alycia Pritchard. “He has great limb and bone, and is a fantastic working hunter type who just sits up and goes.”
Paulette and Louise enjoyed more successes on the opening day with First Rate, who topped the 80cm performance working hunter class and took the ladies’ championship after heading his astride class.
Paulette bought the Obelix six-year-old two years ago when
she saw him competing in the four-year-old young event horse class with Gwen Scott at Dublin Show.
Although lightly campaigned last year as he was still growing, First Rate ended the year on a high by winning the Blue Chip sport horse championship at the National Hunter Show for Adam Taylor.
“He’s such a good ride and so versatile,” said Louise.
They again proved a winning combination a day later, the pair adding the novice working hunter and the supreme novice titles to their championship tally.
Nicola Perrin fielded a strong hand in the Clive Alexander ridden horse supreme championship as she brought through to the final reckoning two full sisters: champion riding horse Ballarin My Grace and champion hunter Ballarin My Lady.
Nicola bought “Lady” three years ago and in their first season last year, they were champions at the Mullingar Equifestival and stood third at Dublin.
“She loves showing, but we’ve just started jumping for a change of scenery,” said Nicola.
However, the Kildare rider chose the wrong one to ride, as “stand-in” jockey Lesley Webb took the title with Lady, while Nicola stood reserve with Grace.
KICKING ON
MINI riders were among the stars of the show and as always, their many championships received great spectator support.
Having a broken finger didn’t deter Penny Kelly from riding in the Cavan Civil Defence mini pony supreme, the Kildare rider taking the championship with her mini part-bred first ridden winner, Chagford Leon.
Penny and “Leon” competed locally in their debut season last year, but because of her injury, this was their first outing of the season.
“We like showing, but we also enjoy going across the open fields at home,” said Penny.
After missing out on competing under the lights last year, Oliver Kinnear made the most of his championship performance to claim the
Fortview Kitchens novice mini
working hunter pony title with his starter stakes winner, Millcroft Gilgamesh. Last year, Oliver had to return home early because his older brother Rory fell ill.
The Bangor rider has been competing Gilgamesh for two years and one of his first big wins was winning the first ridden class at Balmoral show.
However, the East Down branch of the Pony Club member couldn’t wait to switch to jumping.
“I clicked straight away with this pony — he’s a really great push-button ride,” said Oliver.
Piper Lewis-Copeland clinched the supreme mini championship on the middle day riding her show hunter Sarum Remus (Remo).
A fall last year knocked
Piper’s confidence and it wasn’t until family friend Tessa Tingle sent Remo over the Channel from England for Piper to have fun with, that her confidence was restored.
“He is a real play pony,” said Piper, whose “Grandad Brian” bought Remo as an eighth birthday present for Piper.
WINNING STREAK
ALISON CLANCY and Un Atout continued their good run by