THE 2024 Young Eventhorse Series (YES!) reached its conclusion on Tuesday, when the McGahern family hosted the fourth and final qualifying leg at Rincoola.

While much of the emphasis has been on securing tickets for the young event horse classes at next month’s Dublin Horse Show, owners, riders and breeders have kept their eye on the prize money offered through the series league, which is delivered by Horse Sport Ireland and funded under National Breeding Services by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The Young Eventhorse Series prize winners in each age group were based on the highest number of points accumulated during any three of the season’s four qualifiers. In the event of equality of league points, placings were determined by the highest average score awarded in the suitability and potential of the jumping phase.

It was good to see that the winners of the three leagues – that for Junior/Young Rider event horses being included – were all home-bred. Although born in 2019, the Ciara Kinsella-owned, ridden and bred Tykillen Shindig was allowed compete in the four-year-old class, as this Dignified van’t Zorgvliet mare had a foal (a filly by Tyson) last year.

Four-year-olds

1. Bridget Speirs’ BT Just Special (Diarmuid Ryan), b g by I’m Special de Muze – Chitter Chatter, by Robin Des Pres, bd owner 30 points; 2. Ciara Kinsella’s Tykillen Shindig (Owner) 2019 b m by Dignified van’t Zorgvliet – Ballymurphy Queen, by Master Imp, bd owner 24; 3. Lawrence Patterson’s Drumnaconnell Monza (Gillian Beale King), b g by Cormint – Drumnaconnell Promise, by Western Promise, bd owner 19; 4. Keonan Stables’ Bellavalent (Rachael Thompson), ch m by Valent – Bellaney Jewel, by Roselier, bd Woods Rosbotham 18; 5. Aaron Nicholl’s Gleneden Lolo (Casey Webb), b m by Hiello – Mystified, by Dignified van’t Zorgvliet, bd Jim O’Connell 13.

Five-year-olds

1. Kate Lenihan’s Seafield Celt (Daniel Alderson), b g by Celtic Hero B Z – Janis B, by Radolin, bd Jerry Lenihan 19 points; 2. Carol Gee’s RNH Othello (Fraser Duffy), gr g by SIEC Livello – RNH Elisa, by Ustinov, bd Norman Hammond 19; 3. Hollypark Horses’ CSF Hollypark Rocco Blue (Tim McDonagh), gr g by Zirocco Blue VDL – CSF Roys Revel, by Quidam de Revel, bd Patrick Connolly 17; 4. Michele Dennigan’s HVL Air Springs (Nicola Ennis), bl g by Air Jordan Z – Udana M, by Narcos II, bd Tina McDermott 17; 5. Ciara Power and the Dreaming Syndicate’s Stonehaven’s Dreaming (Ciara Power), b g by Querlybet Hero – Ballinamona Park Jody, by Jack Of Diamonds, bd Vahe Bogossian 17.

Junior/Young Rider event horses (aged five to seven)

1. Sharon O’Connor’s Ashwood Iron Lady (Ciara O’Connor), 7yo br m by Iron Man van de Padenborre – Pikeur, by Ramiro B, bd owner 30 points; 2. Lawrence Patterson’s Bonmahon Triomphant (Ben Cousins), b g by L’Arc de Triomphe – Her Highness, by Royal Concorde, bd Richard Fitzgerald 17; 3. Suzanne Ennis’ CBI Joker (Amy Ennis Crosbie), 6yo ch g by Tyson – CBI Dreamland, by Indoctro, bd Carroll Brothers Ireland 16; 4. Angela McIlroy’s Imperial Wonder (Lucy McIlroy), 6yo ch g by Imperial Hights – Tiney, by Silver Wonder, bd Amelia Comskey 14; 5. Patricia Heffernan’s Silk Chiffon (Jack O’Haire), 6yo gr/ro m by Quite Zero – Cassino Royale, by Cassini II, bd Margaret Curran 14.