Mr Medicott retired

TOP Irish sport horse Olympic eventer Mr Medicott (by Cruising) has been retired. Bred by Dr Donal Geaney from Co Kerry, the 19-year-old, who was named the USEA Horse of the Year in 2012 and topped the WBFSH rankings, was officially retired at Rebecca Farm, Montana, last weekend.

True to form, the top horse went out with a young rider team gold medal win with Olivia Dutton, daughter of international event rider Phillip, shortly before his retirement was announced. He will live out his retirement with the Dutton family.

Produced by Waterford’s Francis Connors as a four-year-old, Mr Medicott went to Frank Ostholt in Germany, enjoying highlights such as winning Team Gold at the 2008 Olympic Games and also contested the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Mr Medicott was also partnered by America’s Karen O’Connor to ninth at the 2012 London Olympic Games before going to Phillip Dutton.

Louth Hunt hunter trials

THE Louth Hunt has rescheduled its Hunter Trials at Tattersalls Ireland which will now take place on Sunday, October 14th, having been cancelled earlier in the year due to the inclement weather conditions.

The Hunter Trials which are normally a firm fixture in the early spring calendar will revert to the traditional St Patrick’s Day date on March 17th for 2019. The course will be designed by Tattersalls Ireland resident cross-country course designer Eugene O’Neill and incorporates elements of the Tattersalls International Horse Trials tracks. Classes will include Open Singles, Open Pairs, Novice Pairs and Novice Singles and entries will be taken on the day.

Ringwood

Cockatoo dies

GERMAN event rider Bettina Hoy announced that her great campaigner Ringwood Cockatoo was euthanised at the age of 27 after suffering colic.

Ringwood Cockatoo (by Peacock (FR) (TB) out of Baileys Folley (ISH)) was bred by Co Monaghan’s Hilary Greer and enjoyed a wonderful career with two four-star wins at Luhmuhlen (2005) and Pau (2008) as well as winning numerous times at three-star level. He was named the top eventer in the 2006 WBFSH rankings. Other top achievements were his ninth place at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Team Bronze at the 2005 European Championships and winning Gold at the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

Gibson recovering

THANKFULLY, ahead of a busy Dublin Horse Show, leading youngstock producer Dessie Gibson reports that he has no broken bones following an incident at Clougher Valley Show on Wednesday.

“A ridden horse lashed out and caught me on the knee,” Gibson told The Irish Field on Thursday night. “I’m sitting here with icepacks on the knee as it’s badly swollen but I should be as right as rain for Dublin.”

Weekend shows

AMONG the summer shows listed in the Irish Shows Association 2018 Yearbook for this weekend is Kilmacanogue and District Horse Show today (Saturday), signposted at Enniskerry village, Co Wicklow; Arva Show in Cavan tomorrow (Sunday), while the Midlands Connemara Pony Breeders Group Show is at Mullingar Equestrian on Sunday, July 29th. The Schull Agricultural Show in Cork and Ballinrobe Agricultural Show is on tomorrow.