Margie McLoone

ACTION in Ring 2 commenced early on Wednesday with the Irish Draught performance championship and the wonderful fences on the Dereck Hamilton-designed track were an immediate topic of conversation.

The infamous bridge proved a bogey from the get-go and while they didn’t have to be jumped, the ‘cows’ in the top corner of the ring spooked many of the younger horses – and some in the older class as well. The spectacular spider’s web was the centre of many a photograph.

There was a controversial conclusion to the opening four and five-year-old class where judges Jack Cochrane and Allister Hood recalled five of the 11 starters including J.J. Bowe’s Dunkerrin Grey Mist gelding Lurgan Lad.

To the surprise of many, the four-year-old grey wasn’t placed and it transpired that he had been eliminated having re-appeared for the second phase under Aubrey Chapman while regular partner Jason Higgins left to jump in the main arena.

The winner, whose details were missing from the catalogue, was the KEC Blue Diamond mare Bright Like A Diamond owned by rider Niamh Grimes and Samantha Fitzsimons who keep their winner at Ballyteague Stables near Allenwood.

The five-year-old grey, who was bred in Co Wexford by Betty Byrne out of her Cregann Diamond mare Forest Lodge Damsel, was third here last August in the small hunter class. This season, she was second in the all-Ireland ridden draught championship and fifth at Balmoral. The mare competes a lot in working hunter classes.

Based not too far from the winner in Dunsany, the second-placed Flagmount View was ridden by Zohra Smyth for her brother Karl.

This five-year-old Diamond Design gelding, who was bred in Co Meath by Noel Glennon out of a Carrabawn View dam, has been well-hunted and competes in hunter trials and show jumping competitions.

Flagmount View comes from the family of the former British three-star eventer Cohiba and the three-star show jumper Master Daragh.

While there were some badly behaved animals in the showing classes over the five days, this criticism most certainly did not apply to Ann Lambert’s wonderful Killinick Bouncer who not only won the six-year-old and upwards class but also took the championship ahead of Bright Like A Diamond.

Among those supporting the 11-year-old Grange Bouncer stallion was the owner/rider’s six-year-old son Wally and her father Jack with the legendary horseman revealing that, at 83 years of age, he had hunted the grey with the Killinick Harriers last season.

Although the champion was bred by Pennsylvanian Leslee Asbury, he was foaled in Ireland.

The Lamberts bought his dam, Lady Susan (by Flagmount King), when she was in her late teens and bred a colt and filly out of her by Ann’s ill-fated thoroughbred stallion Robin de la Maison.

Having jumped to Grade A, Killinick Bouncer is no longer registered with Show Jumping Ireland, his appearances being restricted to Riding Club competitions, showing and the hunting field.

Victoria Teuton finished second on the Supreme Ginger mare Gleneven Starina. Owned by Kircubbin exhibitor Wendy Monteith, the eight-year-old, who competes regularly in working hunter classes, was bred in Co Monaghan by Heinz Lorenz out of his Sea Crest mare Gleneven Gold.