THE two horses who were judged champion and reserve performance Irish Draughts in the Main Arena at last year’s Balmoral Show finished first and second in the qualifier for this year’s renewal (May 14th to 17th) at Wexford Equestrian on Wednesday, but in reverse order.

Seventeen horses appeared before Philip Copithorne (flat) and his daughter Alice (jumping) in the six-year-old and upwards class where Co Kilkenny’s Louise Lyons always held the upperhand on Lady Perdita Blackwood’s Clandeboye (145 points). On this occasion, Co Down’s Emma Jackson had to settle for second with Ardnacashel Equestrian’s nine-year-old Beechmore Silver Crest stallion, Ardnacashel Monarch (140.5).

The top two totally dominated the class as, while Jackson also qualified her own six-year-old Gortfree Hero stallion Bannvalley Whisper in third, this was on the much lower score of 127.5. Co Mayo’s Hannah Gordon claimed the fourth and final ticket with Liam Lynskey’s 13-year-old Moylough Bouncer stallion D.S. Ballagh Bouncer (127).

Although beaten at Balmoral last May, Lyons enjoyed plenty of success later in the season with the now seven-year-old Scrapman gelding Clandeboye, who was bred in Co Down by Miriam Burney out of the Western Light mare Libertias Trueblue.

The grey was crowned champion working hunter as the Dublin Horse Show came to a close in August, but it’s debatable if he will return there to defend his title. Clandeboye will, however, be aimed at some Royal International Horse Show qualifiers, both here and in Britain and, down the line, Lyons hopes to take him eventing and show jumping.

Four and five-year-olds

Having secured a qualifying ticket for the four and five-year-old Irish Draught performance championship at The Meadows on Two Mile Nigel, Graiguenamanagh’s Diarmuid Ryan filled his quota for that class at Balmoral when winning Wednesday’s qualifier on board Simon Kelly’s Clogher Highlander (128.5).

The four-year-old bay by Farmhill Highlander was bred in Co Galway by Denis McGrath out of the Fast Silver mare Clogher Silvana.

He was clear in the open singles class at the Kildare hunter trials in Punchestown last Sunday and is one of six horses Ryan has entered in the Kildare performance hunter show at the racecourse next Sunday, March 30th.

Winner of the Irish Draught four/five-year-old Balmoral qualifier at Wexford EC was Clothier Highlander ridden by Diarmaid Ryan \ Justin Black Horse Sport Images

Also qualifying for Balmoral from that 23-runner class on Wednesday were Emma Jackson and the Knockaleery Dancer four-year-old Rockrimmon Ambassador (126) and Neasa Haverty with the year older Lansdown grey Assagart Vacation (126). On the same score of 123, Diarmuid Ryan finished fourth with The Gentleman and first reserve with Cummermore Lad, both of whom will have to qualify under a different rider if they are to line-up at Balmoral Park.

There are three more chances for them to do so – at Gransha EC next Saturday, March 29th, the following day at Tubberbride Equestrian (which clashes with the Kildare performance show) and at Clare Equestrian on Sunday, April 6th. Ryan has no older Draughts for these performance classes.