FOR the first time in this series, the sun shone all day for the latest Equine Awards NI performance qualifier which was held at Gransha Equestrian Centre on Tuesday.
Having judged dressage at Tyrella on Saturday, Joanne Jarden was no doubt pleased to assess the jumping phase here, leaving the flat work to the scrutiny of Elaine Morrow. Alison Barr and Nicole Lawther judged the in-hand phase.
The strongest class numerically was that for four-year-old sport horses bred in Ireland where the winning owner/rider Sarah Sproule, was able to get time off working for one of the country’s top producers of young point-to-point horses, Warren Ewing. Her successful mount was the Irish Sport Horse mare Ballyneety Cavalier Imp, a bay by the ISH stallion, Cavalier Land, and bred in Co Wicklow by Michael Byrne out of the Master Imp mare Ricardos Imp.
Gwen Scott partnered two winners, bringing her double up in the five- to eight-year-old sport horse class on the ISH bay, Mountview Storyteller, who is by the Oldenburg stallion, Tullibards Bennys Legacy. The six-year-old was bred in Co Laois by Thomas Hutchinson out of the Charante mare Clonincurragh Artemis.
Double for Scott
Scott initiated her double in the four-year-old Irish Draught class on the Hillviewfarm Superstar gelding Ratheoin Jack In A Box who has been a regular participant in this series. This bay, who was bred in Co Leitrim by Seamus Rogers, is out of Rosharry Princess, by performance influence Classic Vision.
The ever-busy Emma Jackson won the five to seven-year-old Connemara class on Rockfield Gold Digger, a 2015 gelding by Lough Melvin Paddy out of Monaghanstown Hazel (by Moy Hazy Cove) while the older Connemara class went to the Ellie McDowell-partnered Doonard Con, a 15-year-old gelding by Doonard Cove out of Glenties Scarlett, by Beltra Foggy.
The last qualifier, which again will be held at Gransha EC, has been moved from tomorrow, Sunday, to Tuesday next, April 26th, to accommodate riders attending the Northern Ireland Festival in Cavan Equestrian Centre.