IRISH Draught enthusiast Dermot Molloy partnered his own Two Mile Nigel to victory in the novice supreme championship at the Northern Ireland Festival in Cavan on Saturday night, the chesnut towering over the reserve champion, the Welsh Section B gelding Pine View Remeo.

Two Mile Nigel, a four-year-old ID gelding by the relatively little-used Welcome Diamond stallion King Vinny, was bred in Co Kerry by Jerry McMahon from whom Molloy bought the supreme champion as a foal. His dam is the 2012 Penmerryls Rhythm And Blues mare Two Mile Gretta.

“I showed this fellow five times in-hand last year,” revealed the delighted owner/rider who works in the training department of a medical company in Clonmel. “He was second once, won four times and was youngstock champion at the Westmeath/Offaly Branch show in Moate. He did one training show this year before heading to Cavan.

“He’s next heading to Balmoral for the four and five-year-old performance Irish Draught class, where I may ride him myself, while I’m hoping Diarmuid Ryan will be able to ride my five-year-old, Cummer Dubh – they were second at Dublin last August. Cummer Dubh is also entered in the five and six-year-old working hunter class.”

Molloy also keeps some sport horses at his Co Kilkenny farm where, while he is at work, his wife Michaela tends to the horses. “I wouldn’t be able to manage without her!” stated Dermot. “Michaela rides Nigel at home and she’s the one who does all the plaiting and turn-out at shows.”