Michael Hayden

remembered

RENOWNED owner and breeder of show jumping horses Michael ‘Mick’ Hayden (inset) died last week. Michael lived on his farm outside Rathcoole, where he kept and bred sport horses for many years. In his early life, he hunted with the South County Dublin hounds aboard his infamous Irish Draught ‘Keen’, and later in life it was one the highlights of his year to welcome the hunt through his farm. Many of Michael’s horses competed under the ‘Primo’ prefix with Paul O’Shea in the saddle. His partnership with the Limerick rider began in Ireland over 15 years ago and transferred to the USA, where Michael frequently travelled to watch his horses compete.

In recent years, Michael also owned horses jumping on Irish soil, whom he placed with Francis Connors, Damien Griffin and Mark Cleary. Some of Michael’s highlights as an owner include Primo De Revel’s 15 Grand Prix wins with Paul O’Shea, among them the South County Dublin Grand Prix in 2010 and a Lake Placid Grand Prix double in 2012 and 2013. He also enjoyed Primo Level’s win in the Hermes Puissance at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida in 2012. Michael will be greatly missed by his family, friends and the equine community all around the world.

Tetrathlon tour success for Irish

THE Irish Pony Club squad taking part in the international tetrathlon exchange in Australia are in the middle of their final weekend of competition, which is being hosted by the West Toowoomba Pony Club at the local showgrounds in south east Queensland.

At the opening leg of the exchange (July 3rd to 5th), the Ireland Boys’ team won, while Ireland Girls finished a close-up second to the UK Pony Club. Last weekend, both Ireland teams won and there were some exceptional individual performances, not just by those on the Ireland teams, but also by IPC members competing on the mixed international teams.

Back home, a large squad of IPC members are competing in the Area 17 tetrathlon, which is being run by the East Down Branch of The Pony Club. The shoot and swim phases are taking place this morning at the Down Leisure Centre in Downpatrick, after which it’s on to Hazeldene Farm for the run. Tomorrow’s ride phase at Hazeldene is due to commence at 10.30am.

Polo Wicklow win inaugural event

A WONDERFUL time was had by everyone who attended the Wendy Herbst Ladies’ Cup at the All-Ireland Polo Club in the Phoenix Park the weekend before last.

Polo Wicklow won the Saturday final of this inaugural tournament after a five-year hiatus. Glamour was the word of the day, with supporters and guests of the tournament organisers, Siobhan Herbst (Polo Wicklow) and Michelle Regazolli Stone (MRS Make-up), enjoying the polo and partying until the wee small hours.

Sunday’s polo honoured the new President of the All-Ireland Polo Club, Derville Meade. Derville’s guests on the day enjoyed a sumptuous array of stunning canapes by Breda Flanagan of Ardbraccan Estate, along with refreshing Pimms and champagne throughout the day.

Spotted on the day were Marietta Doran, Rosalind and Sarah Lipsett, Carol Mallon with good friends Gail and Edwin Boyd, past presidents of the club Paul Monahan (with wife Elaine and daughter Tamara), Larry O’Mahony, Johnny Kavanagh and Eamonn Laverty.

The next tournament to feature at the historic polo club will be the Lexus International Tournament on July 25th and 26th.

AIRC nationals

THE Association of Irish Riding Clubs are holding their Connolly’s Red Mills national show jumping championships tomorrow at the Mullingar Equestrian Centre, where the programme will feature the Foran RC70 and RC80 team championship. Four arenas, including the International Grass Arena, will be in use throughout the day, with the team championship getting the action under way at 10am in Sand Ring 2.

The programme, which caters for competitions at RC70 through to RC120 level, includes the Connolly’s Red Mills championship classes, Derby and accumulator competitions and open classes. The 174 riders from 54 clubs, who have made 250 entries will also be vying for Carr & Day & Martin best turned-out prizes, while Treo Eile are sponsoring a prize for the highest-placed thoroughbred in the individual championship classes.

Prolific sport horse stallions farewelled

IRISH Sport Horse breeders mourned the loss of both Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan and DS Ballagh Bouncer this week. Shannondale Sarco (Darco x Voltaire) was bought by his owner, Martin Walsh, as a seven-day-old foal, and it was an accident on the walker as a young horse that led to him being stood as a stallion. A prolific career ensued, with his progeny regularly topping elite sales and going on to compete at the highest levels of the sport. Capels Hollow Drift (Tom Jackson) and Coolparks Sarco (Piggy French) are among those who earned top placings at five-star events.

Walsh described his stallion as: “an integral part of our family for 25 years. We owe him so much, the sport owes him so much for all the super stars he produced. He was more than just a horse to us.”

Derryronane Stud’s DS Ballagh Bouncer (Moylough Bouncer x Mount Diamond Flag) was a 14-year-old stallion bred by Brendan Duffy and owned by Liam Lynskey. He held a Gold Merit for showing, and last year he won the Performance Irish Draught class for older horses at the Dublin Horse Show under rider Hannah Gordon. DS Ballagh Bouncer also held Silver Merits in both show jumping and dressage, having competed up to 1.30m level and earned over 160 Dressage Ireland points.

DS Ballagh Bouncer (Moylough Bouncer x Mount Diamond Flag) 14yo bred by Brendan Duffy and owned by Liam Lynskey. He won the Performance Irish Draught class for older horses at the Dublin Horse Show last year, ridden by Hannah Gordon.