IT has been great to see the increasing interest and numbers competing in the Connemara and Irish Draught sections of Balmoral Show although Edwina O’Connor, who won the Lightsource BP performance Irish Draught championship in the Main Arena on Thursday morning, only entered Ashwood Reggie having had “a mad notion” to do so.

“I was hunting him away at the time with the Wicklows when someone said something about the entries being open so I thought I might as well stick him in,” said the Inch exhibitor. “He’d done a small bit of show jumping in the past but nothing like this. Then I didn’t think I’d get here as a filly kicked me in the face about three weeks ago. Luckily, she had no hind shoes on and I only suffered a broken nose so here I am!”

Ashwood Reggie, who is a nine-year grey gelding by Keamore Diamond Clover and was bred in Co Wicklow by David Miley out of Beara Lady (by Fast Silver), posted his winning score of 160 points early in his class.

In contrast, Emperor John (146) was last into the arena in the four and five-year-old class which he won under his Balrath owner Sive Ryan before going on to stand reserve. Emperor John, who is a five-year-old by Creggan Emperor, was bred in Co Roscommon by Hugh Hennigan out of the Carrickcottage Star mare Manor Lady.

Ridden championship

Now based near Belfast with Jamie Smyth and Ryan Anderson, Katie Crozier won the British Horse Society ridden Irish Draught championship on her six-year-old and upwards class winner, Mountview Silver Fox. Although only fourth in the young class last May, Crozier and the Gortfee Hero gelding, who was bred in Co Mayo by Noreen Tunney out of her Agherlow mare Silver Lack, went on to have a very successful season.

Riding for his wife, Grace Maxwell Murphy, William McMahon claimed the reserve slot on the four and five-year-old class winner, Gleann Rua Marksman, who, as the show opened on Wednesday morning, had won the four-year-old heavyweight hunter class. Also by Gortfree Hero, this grey was bred in Co Mayo by Noel Sheridan out of Springvale Pearl, by Gleneven Rebel.