COMMANDANT Geoff Curran and Bishops Quarter did it again to take the Ripon Select Foods Puissance class, with an outright win at Horse of the Year Show 2023. Since making his debut at the famous horse show last year, Curran got bitten by the HOYS bug and returned this year to defend his title.

Twelve initially came forward to face the big red wall and four riders made it through to round five in front of a rocking sell-out crowd at Birmingham’s NEC. The imposing wall stood at 2.20m, which proved too much for the other three competitors.

Representing the Irish Army Equitation School, it was a moment of déjà vu for Curran and the 16-year-old big bay stallion, Bishops Quarter, as they lifted the trophy for the second year and were also the outright winners of the Defender Puissance at the Dublin Horse Show in August.

Curran commented: “I’m delighted to come back and take the trophy home again. He’s on good form at the moment; he jumped 2.25m outdoors in Dublin, but I have to say it felt bigger jumping it tonight indoors.

“He’s got an abundance of scope and a perfect attitude for the job; he’s very brave and very honest. He’s a real Puissance horse, he’s won a lot of them now, but there’s always room for more.”

Curran has previously evented the horse up to three-star level, but at 16 years old, the horse is now solely aimed at Puissance classes. “It’s amazing in that arena and I’m delighted to be the outright winner. He only really competes in the Puissance now.

“If he is in good shape and good form, we might go to London [International] Horse Show.”

The other three riders who made it through to the final round were Britain’s Joseph Trunkfield with Cruze, Mark Edwards with Montreuxs Tale and Guy Williams with Mr Blue Sky; they all shared second place.

Breen double

A super-fast clear round in 52.33 seconds saw Tipperary’s Shane Breen and the 10-year-old gelding Scarteen (Cardento x Chellano Z) win the Speed Horse Of The Year title on the final day in the main arena. Sligo’s Richard Howley was also among the prizes taking fourth spot with Fame. Shane Breen was also victorious in the HOYS Six Bar aboard Cato Boy, sharing victory with Britain’s John Whitaker.