IRELAND’S YOUNGSTERS ON SHOW

THE Grand Finals at the innovative Youngster Tour Ireland Festival at Mullingar Equestrian Centre allowed up-and-coming superstars to shine, and the age group winners had top-class manners, breeding and potential. The finals were a culmination of eight weeks of qualifiers, designed to give smaller yards and producers on a slower regime a platform to showcase their horses. More than 900 equines competed.

Nine champions emerged from the four-year-old section, all of whom jumped double clear over Alan Wade’s 1m tracks. The Orpen Horses-sponsored seven-and-eight-year-old championship, worth €2,000 (£1,800), went to one of Ireland's most exciting young riders, Orla Queally with her Numero Uno mare Nour Alain.

The six-year-olds, sponsored by Sport Horse Ireland, jumped 1.15m tracks and five went through to the jump-off, in which breeder/owner and rider Olive Clarke rode her Cardento gelding FSS Outlaw (pictured, right) to victory. The pair impressed throughout the tour. Olive also finished third with the Captain Carouso gelding Carouso.

The biggest prize fund, of €6,000, was awarded in the Horse Sport Ireland and Jim Derwin Equestrian five-yearold grand final, in which 10 stars cleared the 1.10m tracks to share top honours.