THERE was poor support for the recent Irish Pony Society two-day championship show at Hollypark Stables from the Northern Area, but one exhibitor delighted to have made the journey down to Co Limerick was Rathfriland producer, Anthea Steele.

On the Sunday, the British-bred Rotherwood It’s The Business won the show pony championship under Jocelyn Hutchinson, while Steele herself showed Brookllan Beau’s Delight to win the show’s youngstock championship, as well as two of the DAFM-sponsored youngstock classes.

“Rotherwood It’s The Business is a six-year-old mare owned by John McCormick and myself,” said Steele of the bay, who is by Treworgan Dare To Peep.

“Known as Lulu at home, she was bought from Rotherwood Stud as a foal by IPS judge Alex Spencer, from whom we purchased her in January.

“She started her showing career with me on board before Jocelyn took over the reins.

“This mare has done just a handful of shows as a novice, but is unbeaten and we are so excited to see what the future holds for this special partnership.”

Speaking about McCormick’s Brookllan Beau’s Delight, who was bred at his owner’s Brookllan Stud outside Saintfield, Steele revealed: “John sent him to me earlier this year to be shown in-hand. He is a seriously pleasant two-year-old colt, who is unbeaten in his class this year.”

First reserve in the show’s Irish-bred championship, Brookllan Beau’s Delight is by Brookllan Celtic Charmer out of Wynswood Picadee.

On a roll, Steele kept the momentum going last Saturday at the Northern Area Autumn Show at Knockagh View Equestrian Centre, where Rotherwood It’s The Business won the Intermediate and show pony championships while, at the Shetland show, which took place at the same time, Brookllan Beau’s Delight won his two-year-old show pony class, and the part-bred and in-hand championships.

He was also reserve supreme of the show.