BRITAIN’s Julian White was invited to judge at the Dublin Horse Show for the first time last week and, teamed up with John Keen (conformation), had plenty of work to do over the five days.

The pair started on Wednesday morning with the first class in the showing programme, that for four and five-year-old performance Irish Draughts, and ended, back in Ring 2, with the working hunter championship, late on Sunday afternoon.

On a score of 268 points, the eventual winner of the opener, Hollypark Prince, was some way ahead of his four rivals when the top five horses following the flat, jumping and conformation phases were recalled to the ring. The five-year-old chesnut son of Céide Prince, who jumped clear (160 points) and was awarded 22 points (out of 30) for rhythm, etc., was given 27 points out of 40 by White for his ride, bringing his total score up to 295.

The four-year-old Dowdstown Purple (David O’Connor), who had a fence down but received the top ride marks of 32, finished second on 288 while John and Leanne O’Sullivan’s Treanlaur Rocky five-year-old, Greeve King William, who topped the flatwork (60 out of 80) and rhythm (23) scores under Jason Furlong, ended up third when receiving 28 ride points for a total of 285.

The only other clear round in this class was recorded by the Diarmuid Ryan-partnered Creggan Emperor gelding Kilbrew Legend but he fared worst in the ride (20) for a completion score of 276 and a fourth-place finish.

Hollypark Prince, who qualified at Tullylish, is owned by the Craughwell-based partnership of Hollypark Horses and Michael MacDonagh. He was bred locally in Co Galway by Alan Bermingham out of the Crannagh Hero mare Carrabawn Auburn whose consorts have mainly been Irish Draughts although she had two foals by the thoroughbred Spriggan.

The winner was ridden by show jumper Ian Moloney who impressed spectators through the qualifiers and in the final. So too did Sean Looney, also better known in the show jumping world, who partnered Stormy Diamond Lady to victory in the class for six-year-olds and upwards.

Here, Hannah Gordon topped the marks after the flat work phase (61) with Liam Lynskey’s stallion DS Ballagh Bouncer but this combination wasn’t recalled for the final phase into which Stormy Diamond Lady carried 273 points. These were accumulated through a good flatwork score, a smooth clear round and top marks (29) for conformation.

Marian Ryan and Kieran Smith’s home-bred grey then moved further clear of her nearest rival, Eamonn Darcy’s 14-year-old Blue Rajah gelding Lachain Blue Boy (Amanda Fahy), who recorded the only other clear round, when receiving top marks for ride. The pair completed on 309 and 289 respectively with Stormy Diamond Lady going on to land the parkbytext.ie championship while Dowdstown Purple took the reserve sash.

As the Co Tipperary owners disappeared with their horse, it was left to Looney to relate that the 10-year-old Sir Stormy Breeze mare had done little more in her life than hack about and hunt. She had been out in the field until sent to his Ballymacarbery yard two weeks before the first qualifier at Scarteen after which Looney had done some working hunters with the grey who is out of the Mount Diamond Flag mare, Ballynagarrick Diamond Lady.

Event rider David O’Connor was delighted to finish reserve on the Crosstown Dancer gelding Dowdstown Purple who was bred in Co Kildare by James Hoare out of the Silver Granite mare Dowdstown Jane. The imposing four-year-old, who was champion at Balmoral, is owned by Greyabbey couple Barry and Jackie Marsh who purchased him at Dublin as a foal. He is for sale as the owners have more of the mare’s produce at home.

“I love Irish Draughts but this is the first time I have ever judged them and it was an honour to be asked to do so on my first visit here,” said White. “There were some quality horses in both classes but I love our champion who could make someone a great foundation mare.”