THE recent Hickstead Derby meeting gave Irish-bred horses plenty of opportunities to shine prior to the forthcoming Royal International Horse Show (RIHS).

Jayne Webber was in tremendous form and swept the board in the cob classes riding winning lightweight and champion Eamon and Rachel McCourt’s Cob In Hood, top heavyweight Carol Bardo’s It’s Abracobdabra and best maxi Sue Guild’s Tank Top.

Webber also claimed the hunter tricolour riding the British-bred Time 2 Reflect.

Standing second to the champion in the lightweight division was Mike and Jill Jerram’s Ballycreen His Lordship who was ridden by (owners’ daughter) Katie Jerram.

A ‘Go For Gold’ purchase this lovely five-year-old is by Kings Master, a sire much favoured by the Jerram family.

New owner Julie Cooper celebrated a surprise win when her purchase of just two weeks headed the heavyweight line-up, Karl Standing getting a really good tune out of Golden Inca Cross.

The Belclare Cross seven-year-old has a good record in Ireland with previous owner Judy Pearson and Julie thought the cracking heavyweight was a good buy to get her back into the saddle after a 20-year break.

“I saw a picture of him on the web and despatched (husband) Royston to clinch the deal,” said Cooper who lives in Surrey.

Although dropping a couple to places to finish fourth after going a little bit green in his ride, the 2014 Dublin supreme hunter Bloomfield Excelsior looked an absolute picture and went well in the ‘go round’ under Jayne Webber.

Before this strapping Jack Of Diamonds five-year-old headed to England after Dublin last August, he had notched up notable wins in Ireland at Balmoral, Gorey and Barnadown EC.

There were plenty of cobs and coloured horses forward whom Lynn Russell sourced in Ireland.

Lynn herself rode Baileys Horse Feeds six-year-old Cleaghmore Boy to take the reserve coloured title.

With the County circuit in full swing producers have plenty of choice of shows and venues and boasting big rings and excellent going Cheshire County and Lincoln County are high on the agenda.

GREAT CAMPAIGNER

Irish-bred cobs were on form at Cheshire, local owner Joanne Goostrey taking the amateur cob championship with her great campaigner Randalstown Brannigan.

Rider and producer Robert Walker gained a winning double with his cobs Randalstown Rolex winning his lightweight division before going on to take the cob title and the multi HOYS winner Starry Night added to the tally when heading the maxi line-up.

Winning the small hunter class was Becky Patterson riding Hart Beat who was spotted in Ireland by his producer Kirstine Douglas last summer.

This Le One five-year-old bred by John Giblin was champion small hunter at Dublin last year.

“I missed my class due to work commitments at Royal Highland so this has more than made up for it. He gave me a great ride and is proving the ideal first horse,” said Patterson who is enjoying a successful debut season in senior ranks.

At Lincoln County, Kelsa Sears took the reserve cob title with Cullawn Lad. Sears bought the 11-year-old grey lightweight from Ireland last year as a project and meant to sell him on, but has been tempted to hold on to him so far.

Katie Jerram had a good day at the office at Lincoln, the Essex rider and producer winning the novice hunter class with Sarah Tait’s Cavaliers Choice and went on to take the open hunter championship with Kings Court (Master Imp).

The working hunter classes are always a feature at Lincoln and producing one of only three clear rounds to head the HOYS qualifier was Fiona Hirst riding Dartans Barrack.

Irish eventer Louise Lyons previously rode this Guidam nine-year-old bred by Eyleen Nugent. The scopey chesnut gelding competed at Dublin in 2011 (with Louise) before crossing the water to be ridden by Louise’s Cheshire-based sister Kelly Ward.

Fiona had a good first season with Barrack last term and will be heading to Birmingham (HOYS) for the second time.