CROSSGAR exhibitor Karen King won the Conn & Fenton Solicitors working hunter championship for the second year running with a home-bred but, on this occasion, it was the Jonny Mulligan-ridden Dilly Diamond Queen, a traditionally-bred Irish Sport Horse mare by Bright Diamond.

Competitors may have been held up in their preparation for the show by bad weather or had done little on grass but, for some reason, many horses failed to cope with the Adrienne Stuart-built tracks in Arena 1 on Friday when clear rounds were at a premium. The 1.15m fences in the older horses’ class didn’t pose a problem for the 13-year-old Dilly Diamond Queen who has evented up to EI110 level. She is out of Dilly Dally Diamond (by Diamond Clover).

The reserve champion was another ISH mare, Bluegate Stud’s Dartans Red Mission who won the five and six-year-old class under breeder, Olympic event rider turned racehorse trainer Louise Lyons. The 2018 Orestus bay is out of the Cavalier Royale mare Red Light.

“This is a fabulous show with very helpful and friendly staff,” said Co Kilkenny-based Lyons. “I was delighted with this result. The conformation judge said my mare was a good-looking ladies’ horse for the hunting field but I think she is very versatile and would hunt, event or show. I’ve had a good week and am very proud to have my children competing here as well.”

The four-year-old class winner, Shannaghmore Skys The Limit, is yet another ISH mare. This grey by Future Trend was ridden for her Craigavon owner Shauneen Rogers by Ben Cousins.

Craughwell’s Maria McNamara landed the Event Technical Services working hunter cob class on her father Tom’s five-year-old Gloster Spiritus gelding Shanbally Moonlight while the Lowry and Boyd families’ small horses class was won by Gareth McClean’s Irish Draught gelding LC Lion King.

The 13-year-old by Supreme Ginger, who was bred by Edwin McLoughin out of the Drumri mare Darragh Drumri, was ridden here for Donaghadee-based McClean by Kirsty Clingan. However, the owner’s wife, Suzanne Hill, had been on board the chesnut when he topped the scores in the Botanica International Balmoral classic side saddle competition in Arena 1 on Thursday morning.