WEST Cork exhibitor John Burchill had an evening to remember on Thursday in the Simmonscourt Arena at the 2023 Dublin Horse Show, when his three-year-old bay filly, ABC Bobby Jean, was crowned the three-year-old loose performance champion, sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland.

Bred by Patrick Kehoe of ABC Sporthorses, the filly by HHS Cornet is the first foal from the 2022 six-year-old young horse world champion ABC Saving Grace (Kannan). She was purchased as a foal by Burchill at Goresbridge and scored a final score of 99 to win.

“Her mother had done nothing at that stage; I just spotted her and there was something about the filly that I really liked – her movement and presence. She went a good bit over my budget but I kept going and I bought her. I am overwhelmed to tell you the truth, it was just unbelievable,” Burchill told The Irish Field.

Better known in the showing ring, it was the Burchill family’s first venture into jumping and first attempt at this prestigious class. The filly was produced by Thomas Quigley and is back home in West Cork for some respite.

“She is back home in West Cork now, I am going to break her over the winter months and hopefully take a few embryos off her. She will go back down to Thomas Quigley then and we will try her for the four-year-olds next year.

“Thomas produced her for this. I gave her down to him and said ‘see if this lady can jump and if not sure what about’. He rang me after about two weeks and said ‘she won’t be too bad’. It is absolutely wonderful, we are delighted,” the proud owner added.

The reserve champion also came from the filly class, that was Rory Goodwin’s home-bred Tilly Rose, a bay by Avos Jordan Z out of Daisy Duke (Tadmus), who was just behind the winner on a score of 98.

Winner of the three-year-old colt division was Lauren McCabe’s Anna’s Resilience, a bay by Canturano bred by Antoinette Bryan and Anna Smith, on a score of 93.