IT’s hard to keep a good man down and while he didn’t get anything qualified for the younger Berney Bros Saddlery Connemara performance hunter class at last week’s Dublin Horse Show, Diarmuid Ryan did book a ticket for the eight to 15-year-old division.

And he made the most of that opportunity by winning the championship with Naomi Murphy’s Pem Boy. The nine-year-old Clifden Silver gelding, who was bred in Co Galway by Michael Moran out of Ballinvoher Lady (by Rathcoona Cove), qualified early at Tullylish as he had done in 2023 and 2024 when he failed to be placed.

This time however, the grey, who recorded one of only two clear rounds in the 15-runner class, comfortably topped the combined scoreboard of Marie-Claire Nimmo, William Fox-Pitt and Nicola Wilson on 274 points. Junior event rider Eliza-Jane Queally finished second on the nine-year-old Martan Phaidin Mhor gelding Carraun Ferdy (263.5) with Leanne Murphy placing third on Doire Mhainaigh Robbie (261), a 14-year-old gelding by Cashelbay Cruise.

The other clear round was recorded by Amelia Durkan on the fifth-placed Busy Bee (255.5) while two combinations failed to finish.

Ryan was also successful in the morning’s performance Irish Draught section and many years ago had a bit to do with the afternoon’s small hunter champion, the Willie Shanahan-bred Ebony King as he rode the gelding’s dam Glencairn Girl in Grade A competitions for her then owner, Gary Quinn, the pair having their last start together in 2003.