QUALIFIED rider Gary Murphy broke new ground last Friday week when he took part in his first working hunter competition.

The 25-year-old from Wexford picked a big enough stage to make his debut as he travelled up to Balmoral Park, not far from Down Royal racecourse, to ride two horses for Duncormick handler Ashleigh Murphy and her husband Michael.

YOUNG HORSE CLASS

In the opening four-year-old section, Gary finished second on Redbridge Glider, a Newmarket Venture gelding whose full-brother, SRS Adventure, will be competing in the new young horse class at next week’s Tattersalls international horse trials.

In the very competitive division for seven-year-olds and upwards, Gary was privileged to ride Ashleigh’s former champion Wexford Pimpernel and, with one of just six clear rounds, he finished fifth on the 11-year-old Kildalton King gelding.

In the evening, Murphy joined Benny Walsh, John Roche and Ciara Walsh on the Killinick Harriers’ team which won the Wilsons Auctions inter-hunt chase in the Main Arena.