THE two horses who were judged champion and reserve performance Irish Draughts in the Main Arena at last year’s Balmoral Show finished first and second in the qualifier for this year’s renewal (May 14th to 17th) at Wexford Equestrian on Wednesday, but in reverse order.

Seventeen horses appeared before Philip Copithorne (flat) and his daughter Alice (jumping) in the six-year-old and upwards class where Co Kilkenny’s Louise Lyons always held the upperhand on Lady Perdita Blackwood’s Clandeboye (145 points). On this occasion, Co Down’s Emma Jackson had to settle for second with Ardnacashel Equestrian’s nine-year-old Beechmore Silver Crest stallion, Ardnacashel Monarch (140.5).