JUDGES Debbie Tems and Rachel Bennet Hamilton had a huge task of judging the ridden horses in ring 1 at Mullingar International last Saturday. Yet again the standard of entries has gone from strength to strength and created a great atmosphere for spectators and competitors alike. An ever growing popular ridden Irish Draught class opened ring one at 9.30am on Saturday morning with William McMahon on Cappa Ranger gaining his first victory of the day, showcasing a great example of this native Irish breed.

One of the most impressive classes of the day was the 18-strong open small hunter class, eventually won by PJ Casey on the four-year-old Regal Reflection after quite an understandable lengthy deliberation.

Angus McDonnell on his impressive hunter Statesman clinched the middle/heavyweight title while Maria McNamara rode Shanbally Spot On to take an impressive victory in a hotly contested four-year-old class. The cob title went to the very imposing grey who went impeccably for owner Megan Jerrard Dinn. Next year’s show will see the cob classes divided into their sections due to the strong demand for weighted entries.

Grace Maxwell Murphy used her ever evident ring craft to come out on top with Cappa Ranger in a busy ladies hunter section closely followed by Leonie O’Gorman on the former champion It’s After Eight who also gave a flawless exhibition.

As the riding horses entered the ring, they immediately filled the eye of the spectators showing off their elegance and impeccable behaviour. The judges had a tough task with the quality that was expertly presented before them but Nicola Perrin on her own Ballarin My Grace became their favourite to take top position.

Thomasina O’Reilly added to her string of victories with Roscon Camille winning a very eye-catching side saddle class, illustrating just how durable the Connemara breed can be.

Gleann Rua Lincoln was showcased to victory by Grace Maxwell Murphy in the open ridden Mountain and Mooreland class with Grainne Murphy’s four-year-old executing a flawless show piece to finish a strong second.

Wexford’s Aileen Dwyer on The Amarillo Kid and Mullingar’s Dot Love on Heesacoolhand gave ride judge Debbie Tems two very well schooled rides in the IHWT Retrained Racehorse qualifier. Spectators can look forward to seeing them both at the final at Tattersalls Show on July 20th-21st next. They also battled it out head-to-head to compete in the working hunter qualifier for the Tattersalls IHWT final which saw judge Cathy Grassick award Dot Love winner of her class just a short-head in front of The Amarillo Kid.

Huge entries

Huge working hunter classes kept an ever diligent Grassick on her toes throughout the day with many superb rounds of jumping exhibited. Roscon Camille was very busy after winning her sidesaddle section, changing tack and picking up the first working hunter class of the day under owner Thomasina O’Reilly while claiming the Connemara WH title under Ciara Dennigan.

William McMahon kept up his winning streak on Gleann Rua Spielburg in the 80cms, while Tom McNamara’s Shanbally Spot On showed a talented performance to win his class, exhibiting true professionalism for a four-year-old.

It was a long day on the judges but their fairness and enthusiasm never faulted throughout. Grassick showed her eye for attention to detail when choosing her working hunter champion as William McMahon on board the five-year-old Gleann Rua Spielberg (RID). Her reserve choice went to the ever diligent Maria McNamara on her father’s Shanbally Spot On.

The championship then swapped over to ring 1 where deliberation took some time such was the high quality of horses forward.

The spacious ring was very professionally used by all competitors which gave everyone a fair chance to showcase their winners which was very evident in the final gallop.

A delighted Nicola Perrin on Ballarin My Grace (by Kings Master) was pulled forward from the riding horse section as champion for 2019, retaining her 2018 title. The imposing Statesman took the reserve spot for owner Angus McDonnell.