THERE was a disappointingly small entry at Gransha Equestrian Centre on Tuesday for the second qualifier for the Knotts Bakery young event horse championships at Balmoral. This was especially so for course builder and venue proprietor Adrienne Stuart, the driving force behind the series.
However, some people were well pleased with their day in particular Jonny Mulligan who won both classes on mares bred by their Banbridge owner Brian Clinghan. “I was delighted with the way the pair went, especially the four-year-old who was very green but was the only one to go clear over the course which was spooky enough; there were poles all over the place,” commented the rider.
“Brian keeps the four-year-old at home and just brings her to me to school while I have the five-year-old at Danescroft. My horses are a bit behind this season as I broke my wrist at the start of the year so they missed a lot of work.
“I don’t know if I’ll bring either of these to Cavan next weekend for the Northern Ireland Festival but I’ll probably have something there and I wouldn’t mind winning the Festival working hunter championship again as there’s good money for that!”
The successful four-year-old was the OBOS Quality 004 mare Lisnafiffy who is out of Lisnarree (by Hermes de Reve). The bay won on a total of 79.25% ahead of the Gwen Scott-partnered Lough Zan (71.75), a Loch Cruise mare, and Rockrimmon Flying Solo (71.42). That mare was ridden by Eric Pele who, in a schedule change, is hosting next Tuesday’s qualifier at Lisbane Farm. In spite of having a fence down, Mulligan won the five-year-old class on a total of 79.83% with Clinghan’s Rockleigh, a daughter of Hermes de Reve out of a Nigrasine mare. Emily Corbett placed second on the Mermus R gelding Meranti (77.50) while Neil Morrison finished third on Two Bob (76.83).
Easy winner of the dressage phase was Emma Jackson’s Carra Lux Quality, on whom Courtney Stuart replaced the temporarily sidelined owner, while the only clear round was recorded by young rider Hannah Blakely on Bonnie McKay.