TAKING place in Greenogue Equestrian over the weekend was the Botanica International Show of the East, commencing Saturday with the horse classses. This proved a slightly challenging task under weather conditions, but with the super facilities and equipment at the venue, it allowed the track for the workers to be superbly built by Killian Clarke and the show went ahead.

It was in the worker ring where judges Amy Kinane and Caoimhe Eievers found their Equine Viewer Ireland supreme champion. Taking the win in the 1.10m section was Jessica Murphy on Darcy De Chanteloube, who then went forward to win in the Whites Agri working hunter championship to allow them to go on and take the overall.

A busy day for Jessica also saw her take the top spot on the grey, Courtowns Grandpas Girl in the small hunters and second on their debut in the side saddle class.

The evening championships brought forward some super combinations. Reserve champion horse was Fayte, who had earlier won the lightweight hunter class and the JKD-sponsored Show Hunter championship, owned by Dee Kinsella and ridden by Shane McKenna under the watchful eyes of Kevin McGuinness, James Smyth and Ryan Anderson. McKenna show team had a busy day also with wins and placings in all their classes.

Cian Greene at the Botanica International Show of the East \ Sagittarian Photography

The second day was the turn for the pony competitors. Some super combinations out in force, the judges had a difficult time deciding. The supreme had to finish with the riders doing individual show pieces and the decision was made, the Bramhams of Buckingham supreme champion went to five-year-old C.J. Greene riding Woodroyds Go Go Girl, Reserve went to Sadhbh O’Connor on her four-year-old Connemara Teach Mor Sparrow, a great choice, as Sadhbh had to choose from three ponies, her mount Fifth Avenue won the show hunter championship and the beautiful coloured Ashleas Grand Finale won the show pony championship.