Daniel Coyle’s Legacy tops rankings
LEGACY, Daniel Coyle’s Paris Olympic horse, tops the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses show jumping rankings for August, ahead of Olympic champion Checker 47 (second) and Dubai du Cedre (third). Bred by Romain Rotty, the Zangersheide mare is by Chippendale Z.
The highest-placed ISH show jumping horse is the Patrick Connolly-bred James Kann Cruz in 17th place. The final WBFSH rankings for 2024 will be known in October.
Changes at the Agricultural Trust
LIAM Woulfe has been appointed interim Chair of the Board of the Agricultural Trust, publisher of The Irish Field, the Irish Farmers Journal, Irish Country Magazine and The Irish Garden, following an AGM. Woulfe is the managing director of Grassland Agro and previously worked for Kerry Group, Golden Vale plc and Aurivo. He has been a member of the board for the past five years. The Limerick man replaces Matt Dempsey as chair of the board. Dempsey held the position for 11 years and was a former CEO and edited the Irish Farmers Journalfrom 1988 to 2013. A keen hunting man, Matt was chairman of the Kildare Hunt Club (owners of Punchestown racecourse) during a crucial time, was president of the RDS and was chairman of the Irish National Stud and of the National Gallery. Two other board members also retired from the board at the AGM. Longford dairy farmer and former chair of Animal Health Ireland, Mike Magin and former Department of Agriculture Secretary General Michael Dowling. New board members will be appointed in the coming months.
Rolex bows out of Grand Slam
THE organisers of The Grand Slam of Eventing Series are seeking a new title partner after Rolex ended its long-running sponsorship. The series rewards athletes who succeed across the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, Mars Badminton Horse Trials and Defender Burghley Horse Trials. The prize is presented to a rider who has won all three events consecutively (not necessarily in the same year). The $350,000 prize was won by Pippa Funnell in 2003 and by the only three-time Olympic individual gold medallist in eventing, Michael Jung, in 2016.
The organisers thanked Rolex for their decades-long support, while announcing that, for the first time in 23 years, the title sponsorship has become available.
Irish Pony Foal Show on today
THE Irish Pony Foal Show starts at 12 noon today, Saturday September 21st, at Sullivan’s Farm (Pine View Farm), Collon, Co Meath (A92 V4K7) with fantastic prize money on offer part-funded by Horse Sport Ireland.
Classes include Irish-bred pony broodmare (€250), Irish-bred two-year-old any sex (€250), the All-Ireland Irish-bred Championship (colt and filly, €500 each), lrish-bred yearling, as well as classes for cob foals, Connemaras, Kerry Bog Ponies, miniatures, Welsh and part-Welsh. There is even a fun dog show. For more details, call Sharon on 087 456 0142.
Connemara Pony art exhibition
A CONNEMARA Pony art exhibition will run as part of the Clifden Arts week at Foyle’s Hotel, Clifden, until September 29th. This exhibition is a continuation of the ‘Before The Beginning’ exhibition hosted by Connemara National Park in August 2023. The theme of the exhibition is The Connemara Pony, featuring 12 pieces of art, photography and sculpture. The proceeds will go to Connemara Therapeutic Riding CLG, a charity based in Cleggan, Co Galway, which provides specific therapeutic riding services and equine assisted activities to people with a wide range of mental, physical and intellectual additional needs. For further information, contact Jacqueline Boulger on 087 7377886 or Cathriona O’Toole on 087 2786795.