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You are > Home > Good week for the west in equestrian in Dublin
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Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Good week for the west in equestrian in Dublin
Showjumping
IN SOME OF THE hottest temperatures ever recorded at the Dublin Horse Show, Connacht were up there with the best, taking 45 Rosettes in the National Competitions and clocking up four wins in the process.
We were also represented in the International Events by brothers Cameron and Carl Hanley, Claremorris, who were consistently in the prizes, and young Michael Kerins from Sligo.
Large crowds turned out in the sunshine to view what is considered the most prestigious event on the National Calendar. Eleven-year-old Jessica Burke from Gort was a joy to watch in the pony competitions and on the opening day took 4th place in the 128 with Turbo Boy and 5th position in the 138’s with Dromloughra Pelly, further qualifying her quota for the Pony Championships in the main arena.
On day two, Jessica was just one of three clears in the 128A and finished 2nd with the consistent Turbo Boy. The Galway Girl was certainly on form when also taking 3rd position the same day on Dromloughra Pelly in the 138’s.
It looked good for the Championships but unfortunately it wasn’t for Jessica – she had the fastest time in the 128 Championship in what was the fastest final witnessed at the RDS but unfortunately Turbo Boy took two fences down leaving her in 8th position and Dromloughra Pelly had four faults in the first round in the 138’s. However, Jessica took Tullamore Show on the way home where she was winner of the 138cms Derby on her other pony Lough Cultra Lad and was 2nd on Dromloughra Pelly.
Also on form at the RDS was Richard Howley with his two ponies Ballinlow Lass and Covehill Scoobie taking 6th and 10th respectively in the 1st Qualifier, 10th with Covehill Scoobie in the 2nd Qualifier and 10th with Ballinlow Lass in the 128 Championship, having the fastest four faults in the 1st round.
Diarmuid Howley, who has been consistent all year, took 9th in the opening 128cms with Sligo Weekender and was 4th in the Championship when picking up an unfortunate 3 faults against the clock. Also taking rosettes in the pony section were Shane Timlin, Ballina, with Park Rebel in the 5/6/7 Year Olds Ponies and David O’Brien, Athenry with Star of Cashel in the 148A.
Gabriel Slattery, Irishtown, was the hot-shot in the horse competitions with six horses qualified for the Show. His star of the Show, however, had to be John Lee’s Welcome Captain, a 5-year-old by Captain Clover. This horse took a 3rd place in the preliminary qualifier, was a winner on day two and took 2nd place in the Championship and in doing so qualified to represent the Irish Sport Horse at the World Breeding Championships in Lanaken, Belgium at the end of September. Another star from Gabriel’s yard was the 4-year-old Cruising Colt Rock Sensation. Placing 4th the first day and 3rd the second day, he went on to be placed 4th in the 4-year-old Championship and was unfortunate to have one pole on the ground when ridden by International Rider Kevin Babington.
Gabriel also qualified his two 7-year-olds for the 7 & 8 Year Old Championship by placing 4th with Jay Brennan’s Sligo Royale and 6th with John O’Brien’s Abbey Star in the opening competition. Those two went on to be 6th and 9th respectively in the National Championship in the main arena.
A further win in the 6-Year-Old Horse Section went to Sligo man Declan McGarry riding his own Castle Flame Girl. Cameron Hanley was also consistently placed in this event with the coloured stallion Utah Van Erpokom – 9th on day 1, 5th on day 2 and 4th in the Championship. Other placings in the Senior Sections went to Liam Filan, Sligo with Standhill Hilton Clover in the 6 Year Olds, Tom Slattery, Tynagh with Java Keltic Son, Matt Gordon, Crossmolina with Mount Cruise Stephen Egan, Ballina with Cavinem in the 5 Year Olds and David Burke, Loughrea in the 4 Year Olds with Carroll’s Delight.
Our young riders also did us proud when both 1.20M competitions came west of the Shannon. Thomas O’Brien, Athenry with Heather Cruise was winner of the 1st Young Rider event with Michael McGuinness, Crossmolin taking 3rd place and David Horkan, Ballina in 6th place. Cathal McMunn, Sligo and now based at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre, Co. Galway was seven seconds ahead of his nearest rival in the 2nd 1.20M with Joseph O’Brien, Athenry taking 5th and 9th, Michael McGuinness in 8th and Michael Whyte, Tuam in 10th.
SLATTERY CLEANS UP AT SUN SOAKED MILLSTREET
For the first time in nine years it was brilliantly hot and dry at Millstreet Horse Show and the venue attracted the largest entry and attendance for years. Nine hundred and ten horses were stabled at the Green Glens Complex in the Co. Cork town where seven arenas hosted competitions all day long for four days.
Gabriel Slattery, Irishtown, had one of the best shows ever recorded by any rider where he had 16 top four placings and is quite rightly named “The man of the Moment” as he heads to the World Breeding Championships in Lanaken later in September. He was winner of the two most prestigious competitions at Millstreet - The Boomerang and the Young Irelander and also took the 5 Year Old Championship in the Main Arena for good measure. Riding the consistent Welcome Captain, owned by Galway Rugby Player John Enda Lee, he beat off stiff opposition in a high-class field of 38 horses in the Boomerang just after he had walked off with the winners prize in the 5 Year Old Championship on the same mount. Earlier in the week he produced the winner of the Young Irelander - Colonel Clover also owned by John Enda and Jack Lee. Both Welcome Captain and Colonel Clover are by the Irish Sport Horse Stallion Captain Clover who himself was in the winners enclosure in the Green Glens Main Arena in the Opening Speed on the Wednesday of the show.
Duffy Brothers, Alex and Martin, kept the home fires burning in the pony ranks where the Derby Finals over many natural obstacles in the Main Arena were as exciting as ever. Alex and Martin from Knockmore took away two of the Derby titles. Martin, no stranger to the Derby in Millstreet, where he was defending his championship prize, was winner of the 148cms B/C with his mothers Gas Man a clear two seconds ahead of his nearest rival. Younger brother Alex took the 138AB Derby Final aboard his pony Liam Gallagher - a second off his nearest rival Galway Girl Jessica Burke with Loughcutra Lad.
Jessica, however, has been making her presence felt in both the 138cms and the 128cms categories and Millstreet was no exception. With a 2nd place in the 138AB Derby Final, she could have gone home proud, but the 11-year Old went one better in the 128cmsA Derby Final with a blistering round from the aptly named Turbo Boy. Jessica from Gort, Co. Galway has been riding since she was 5 and was hunting with the Galway Blazers when she was 6. One to watch for the future and certainly looks on form as she heads to the National Pony and Young Riders Show in Goffs next weekend.
Cathal McMunn, originally from Sligo and now stable rider for the Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre Complex, was the one to watch in the Young Riders Section with he was winner of the 1.20M Young Rider Championship Qualifier with Mr. Know All, and the 1.10M Young Riders Qualifier with Boherdeal Cowboy.
Also in the winners enclosure in Millstreet were: David O’Brien, Athenry with Bertas Clover - 148cms BC Derby Qualifier (Thursday); Liam Filan, Sligo with Carlton Diamond - 1.20M Championship Qual (Thursday); Adrian McElroy, Ballaghaderreen with Chimes of Midnight - 1.10M Champ. Qual (Thursday); John McGuinness, Mohill with Rosses Misty Sea Bird - 5 Yr Old Qual & 1.10M Champ final.
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