THE Western Region of Eventing Ireland ran the final Irish Draught performance qualifiers for Balmoral Show (May 14th to 17th) last Sunday at a sun-baked Clare Equestrian where the judging duties fell to Patricia Hoey and Denise Norton.

As she had already qualified her quota of two horses, Maria McNamara and her father Tom had to find a second jockey to get more of their string through to the final and turned to Scottish international event rider Becky Scott who did as required in the 18-runner four and five-year-old class.

Here, McNamara stuck to the previously-qualified Lisatara Tom gelding Shanbally Hipflask who, on 135 points, finished second to his Scott-partnered stable-companion Shanbally Gordon (137). Katie O’Dea placed third on LLS Ladies View (131.5), a five-year-old chesnut mare by Young Carrabawn.

Also born in 2020, the Ras Na Ri grey Shanbally Gordon was bred in Co Galway by Richard Hardy and is the third of three foals listed on the Irish Horse Register out of the Mountain Diamond mare Gordons Coolderry Mountains.

Filling the next three placings were Dermot Molloy with his four-year-old Heigh Hi Dubh gelding Cummermore Lad (130), Milchem Equestrian-based Scott on the McNamaras’ Shanbally Nightcap (128) and Claire Sheerin riding Derrypatrick Gold (125).

Lindsay Graham and SHMA Miss Windgap won the six-year-old and over Balmoral qualifer at Clare Equestrian \ Rynes Walker

Six-year-old and upwards

Eight combinations contested the six-year-old and upwards qualifier where the final leaderboard was topped by Lindsay Casserly on SHMA Miss Windgap (134), who has 31 Showjumping Ireland points to her credit, with Amanda Benson close-up in second on Ballingeary Buster (133.5), a 12-year-old grey gelding by Luke Skywalker.

The winning six-year-old, a black mare by Eponastables Uibh Fhaili, was bred in Co Offaly by her owner, Sharon Mannion, out of the Windgap Blue mare SHMA Windgap who has bred four Irish Draught foals and three Irish Sport Horse foals.

The first two finished well-clear of the remainder who were headed by the Niamh Nolan-ridden Toberpatrick Tom Boy (121.5), an 11-year-old grey gelding by Ballybrack Diamond. Amanda Fahy placed fourth and fifth on the well-known Lachain Blue Boy (120) and Lackyle Gorgeous George (120) with Teresa Whyte back in sixth on Sleehaun Silver Crest (113.5).

The performance Irish Draught championship will take place in the Main Arena at Balmoral Park on the morning of Thursday, May 15th.