THE annual May bank holiday show in Lusk EC has regularly seen prospective show and working hunter champions prepare on grass for Balmoral and the organisers were looking forward to this week’s RUAS highlight to see how the 2018 winners got on at Balmoral Park.

Jenny Lusk worked hard to bring new judges to the show and this year enlisted Julie Marchant, who recently moved from Kent and is now living in Mayo, to assess conformation in the horse classes while the ride judge was the Co Downs’ huntsman, Ian Donoghue. Paul Horner acted as senior ring steward with local cob supremo, Robert Morrow, keeping everyone informed of horses’ breeding, owners, riders and any previous success.

This year’s champion hunter was Terry Johnston’s Hi Mr Henry, a five-year-old lightweight gelding by Cruising Harry who was ridden by Hannah Whittle. The bay was bred in Co Tipperary by John O’Sullivan out of Coumroe Duca Di, by Tjipke. Standing reserve was Jacklin Bingham’s Fantastic Mr Fox who had won the small hunter class under Sarah Brittain. This 12-year-old chesnut gelding by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan Z was bred in Co Carlow by David Hatton out of a Diamond Lad mare.

In the pony showing ring, where judge Pauline Turner was assisted by Blanche Thompson, the numbers weren’t as high as in the horse section but there was a good turn out in the Mountain & Moorland and Connemara classes. Here, the champion was the Heather Steele-ridden Mountcaulfield Jackpot with Lisa Booth standing reserve on the Connemara mare Lady Valley.

Because of the uncertain weather forecast, it had been decided in advance to move the working hunter classes in to the all-weather arena. As luck would have it, the day was one of the best so far this year!

Just back from Badminton, Lawrence Patterson judged the jumping phase in the horse classes, ably assisted by Julie Lennox, with Marcus Buser and Beverly Irwin judging phase two. The pony judges were Janice Campbell and Fran Warden.

There were many compliments for the show’s organisation and Jenny and Harold Lusk were most grateful for all the voluntary help they received. There is a Centre-run one-day event at the Lisburn venue next Saturday, May 26th, with a two-phase competition for those who like to avoid dressage.