THERE’s just one qualifier in Ireland for the Cuddy supreme in-hand championship at the Horse of The Year Show and last Saturday’s renewal at the Northern Ireland Festival in Cavan went to English raider Tiger Cub.

Judging of the qualifier took place during the evening performance before which Billy Moran’s home-bred two-year-old had won both the hunter and sport horse in-hand championships.

In the former, he stood ahead of Dessie Gibson’s similary-aged Calandro gelding Spin Doctor while the reserve in the sport horse championship was Julie Radden’s home-bred three-year-old Nigrasine filly Garland Treasure.

Tiger Cub is by Billy and Joanne Moran’s home-bred British Sport Horse stallion Tiger Attack who himself qualified for the Cuddy in-hand final as a two, three and four-year-old. The 2012 bay, who has over 60% thoroughbred blood, has recorded numerous wins in-hand and under saddle and has had two starts in BE100 classes this year, his third season competing under British Eventing rules.

Saturday’s Pretty Ponies supreme in-hand champion is one of three recent Tiger Attack foals out of the Primative Proposal mare Dewsbury Park.

Much to the disappointment of the home supporters, and Connemara fans, last year’s winner of the NIF title and HOYS qualifier, Joe Burke’s stallion Banks Timber, only stood reserve on this occasion.

WEATHER

“We left home at 5am on Saturday and were lucky enough to miss most of the bad weather during the day,” commented Burke. “The stallion won all classes he was shown in and then we had to wait for the evening performance. The in-hand championship wasn’t on ‘til late but we were always going to stay over as there is a great atmosphere at this show and I always enjoy it.”

Following his victory here in 2018, the Danish-bred grey returned to his covering duties at Burke’s Cloonisle Stud in Co Galway before heading back across the Irish sea to his regular rider, Sandra Burton, who partnered Banks Timber to win the BSPS Mountain & Moorland ridden championship at Olympia just before Christmas.

WINNER

“It was a great weekend for the stallion who has been covering away this season,” continued Burke. “As he was winning his classes in Cavan, a son of his, Aniar Cashel, was winning a novice championship in England with Sandra riding. He’s a six-year-old from Banks Timber’s first main crop and out of a mare by Cloonisle Cashel out of a Corbally Con mare out of a Rebel Wind mare.

“It was disappointing that we were beaten in the qualifier on Saturday night but, that’s showing, and there’s always next year!” concluded the Co Galway stud master.