CO Louth breeders John and Maria Melvin were “stunned” last Saturday when, on their first foray into the world of show hunters, they found themselves owning a reserve supreme champion at Dublin, Glenkeeran Dance Inthedeep.

The couple knew so little about showing on the flat that they suggested to Kieran Ryan, producer and rider of the chesnut, that they would take the horse home following his win in the four-year-old lightweight geldings’ class on Thursday.

“We’re going to need him for Saturday,” said Ryan in reply. “But why?” queried the breeders, “we haven’t entered him in any other classes at the show.”

When all was explained to them, John and Maria were more than happy to return to Dublin early on Saturday morning. They watched the judging in the Main Arena alongside dressage rider/judge Michael Moore who explained all that was unfolding.

As their young horse was crowned lightweight champion and then four-year-old champion, the Melvins were left speechless and just couldn’t believe it when the chesnut was announced as reserve supreme.

As usual, the couple gave credit to all involved in the horse, stretching back to when they bred his dam, Glenkeeran In The Deep. John takes up the story.

“We bought this fellow’s grandam, Isis (by Deep Run), as a 19-year-old from Martin Hoste. She had bred six foals at that stage including Philson Run (by Un Desperado) who won four chases including the Midlands Grand National.

“It was a friend of ours, Gary O’Shaughnessy, who suggested we cover her by Snurge and the resultant foal, her only one for us, was Glenkeeran In The Deep. She was never broken and has bred five live foals (losing three) who, to date, have all been by Crosstown Dancer.”

Glenkeeran Dance Inthedeep (Fintan) started off this year with Claire Abbott and competed in the young event horse final at Balmoral in May, finishing fourth. It was Abbott’s mother Catherine who suggested to the Melvins that showing might be a better route for the horse to follow and last week marked his first appearance in a flat class.

“We knew we had a nice horse going to Dublin but had no idea that he would do so well,” stated John Melvin. “The Abbotts did a great job with him at the start of the year and so laid the foundation for this success. They were there on Thursday to see him win his class. Fair play to Kieran for taking him on as it was quite late when he got the horse and he and his team have worked wonders with him as well. We have been very fortunate.”

There was interest in Glenkeeran Dance Inthedeep from the moment he won his class and he will probably be sold by the time this article appears. The Melvins would also contemplate selling his three-year-old full-brother, Glenkeeran Rivers Edge, but will most likely hold on to their 2015 full-sister who is, as yet, unnamed.

“You’d want to check that with Maria,” said John. “She’s the owner!”

Maria also owns some rare breed sheep and is an expert when it comes to growing Sweet Pea.