Balmoral judges announced
THE Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) has announced the judges ahead of the 156th Balmoral Show. The show takes place from May 14th to 17th at the Eikon Exhibition Centre. The judges are Louise Daly and Paul Kinane (hunters), Rachel Cox and Kerrilee Wilson (ridden Irish Draught), Chris Hewlelt and Cathy Wood (breeding and youngstock), Denise Colebrook and Harry Scanlan (coloured horses), Rachel Cox, Kerrilee Wilson and Robert Draper (performance Irish Draught), Denise Colebrook and Amy Kinane (ladies hunters astride, ladies side-saddle and riding horses), Jane Darragh (‘Balmoral Star of the Future’ Performance Horse Championships), Edward O’Grady and Davy Russell (Racehorse to Riding Horse), Keiran Baslington and Jenny Banks (Working Hunter Horses, inc Smalls and Cobs), Amy Kinane and Clare Dew (cobs), Alistair Christie (Clydesdales), Georgina Turner (Hackneys), Kerry Wainwright and Steven Strang (Connemaras), David Blair (M&M), Henritta Barton and Debbie Machin (ridden ponies), Philip Hilton and Clare Dew (working hunter ponies). Diane Gibson and John Bamber are named as the referee judges.
Antler Challenge
THE 2025 edition of the Antler Challenge takes place on Sunday, March 16th, at Joey and Emma Moore’s Primrose Farm, Greenogue. The main features of the day are the Open Challenge, with its 32 fences over 5km and the Junior Challenge, over a separate course for 13 to 16-year-olds. Last year’s winner of the Open Challenge, and one of the organisers, Johnny Drake, was among the first to sign up.
The Antler trophy will be presented to the winner of the Open challenge, where there will be prizes also for the first thoroughbred horse home (sponsored by Treo Eile), first half-bred, first lady rider, first Ward Union Hunt member, first veteran (over 50), first heavyweight (over 15st) and first overseas competitor home. Entry price on the day is €15 per person (free for those under 16) or can be purchased at a reduced rate of €10 on https://itsplainsailing.com/org/wuhc#event-57292
Irish team named for Ocala LLN
MICHAEL Blake has named his team for the second round of the Longines League of Nations in Ocala on March 22nd. Three of the four members who were part of last year’s winning team are back; they are Daniel Coyle, Darragh Kenny and Cian O’Connor, joined by Bertram Allen. Ireland opened their 2025 campaign in great style, as they scored a convincing win in Abu Dhabi last month.
AIRC AGM on March 27th
THE Annual General Meeting of the Association of Irish Riding Clubs is on Thursday, March 27th 2025 at The Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise, Co Laois. The meeting will commence at 7.30pm and is open to clubs registered in 2024. Registration opens at 7pm on the evening. Member clubs and their associate members must register their intentions to attend, via www.airc.ie before 12 noon on Friday, March 21st, 2025.
Strule Valley celebrate 28 years
STRULE Valley Riding Club are holding their annual dressage show at the RDA, Arvalee, Omagh on Sunday, March 23rd to celebrate 28 years. The show is open to everyone, members and non-members, ponies and horses and is pre-entry. Classes include BD Intro A 2008, BD Intro C 2016, BD Prelim 2 2016, BD Prelim 13 2006 revised 2016, BD Novice 34 2009.
Entries to Alison (07835 998979) by Wednesday, March 19th. The RJ Monteith Perpetual Cup will be awarded to the highest placed SVRC member in the Prelim classes. The prizes are kindly sponsored by MGM Equestrian.