THE final of the Equine Awards NI performance horse series was held last Sunday at the Stuart family’s Gransha Equestrian Centre outside Bangor where competitors were seeking a share of the £4,000 prize-fund generously sponsored by Ann King.

The judging panel for the final comprised Mark Robinson (dressage), Joanne Jarden (jumping) and Lucy Adams (conformation and type). The trio were pleased with the quality of the horses who had qualified while spectators enjoyed watching some excellent jumping over an interesting course of show jumps and cross-country-type fences.

“It was evident that the series had benefitted the horses as the courses increased in technicality through the five qualifying rounds,” commented series organiser, Adrienne Stuart, who has a busy week ahead of her as course builder for the performance classes at Balmoral Show. It will be interesting to see how any of the finalists here perform in Balmoral Park.

The two finals for sport horses bred in Ireland attracted the largest fields on the day which started very well for Banbridge’s Jonny Mulligan as he won the four-year-old section on Glasker Happy Hour, a traditionally-bred Irish Sport Horse mare by Road To Happiness.

The grey, who was bred in Co Down by Lisa McCallister, is out of the King Of Mourne mare, Glasker Clover Queen, a half-sister to the Linwood Sweet Excalibur gelding, Glasker Sweet Clover (CSI4*-S).

Rory Lavery finished second on his ISH gelding Tullaher Milo, a son of Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan, with Emma Jackson placing third on RRS Joe, a bay ISH by Lancelot.

Gwen Scott claimed the five and six-year-old class on Mountview Storyteller, a 2016 ISH gelding by Tullibards Bennys Legacy. Bred in Co Laois by Thomas Hutchinson, the bay is out of the Charante mare Clonincurragh Artemis.

Victoria Mullen finished second here with her ISH gelding Fun Time Frankie, a five-year-old gelding by Lancelot out of Connie Barry’s Cruising mare, Twilight Cruise, a full-sister to Bosun (CCI4*) and First Mate (CCI4*) and a half-sister to the Clover Brigade gelding Buccaneer (CCI4*-L).

Good day for Scott

Scott had a profitable day as she also won the two finals for Irish Draught horses. Her four-year-old winner was Ratheoin Jack In A Box, a son of Hillviewfarm Superstar. The bay, who was a regular participant in the qualifiers, was bred in Co Leitrim by Seamus Rogers out of the 2007 Classic Vision mare, Rosharry Princess.

Also under Scott, Katie and Alison Crozier’s Mountview Silver Fox, winner of the five and six-year-old class, is being kept busy at present as he appeared at Gransha just seven days after being judged Festival reserve supreme working hunter champion at the Northern Ireland Festival. Next week, he bids to retain his title as champion ridden Irish Draught at Balmoral Show where he will also compete in the performance Irish Draught section and in the working hunter division.

Previously known as Gortfree Rocky, the five-year-old grey gelding was bred in Co Mayo by Eileen Barker out of the Grey Macha mare, Ballygarris Grey.

Emma Jackson struck twice in the Connemara finals, claiming the section for five to seven-year-olds on Rockfield Gold Digger, a seven-year-old gelding by Loughlin Melvin Paddy. The dun, who was bred by Kevin McCloskey, is out of the Moy Hazy Cove mare Monaghanstown Hazel.

Ashfield Cassanova, who was partnered by Jackson to win the eight to 15-year-old final, is a Class 1 stallion by Coosheen Callowfeenish Cashel out of the Ballydonagh Cassanova mare, Monaghanstown Lass. The 11-year-old grey has been successfully shown in-hand, in ridden classes and in working hunter competitions.