Proud legacy for Slyguff’s Noel

IT was a proud moment for Slyguff Stud stallion man Noel Skelton in charge of the impeccably-behaved Golden Master during the Leopardstown Racecourse stallion parade. The 15-year-old is the third generation of stallions looked after by Skelton including his latest charge’s sire Master Imp and grandsire Imperius. Another link to a famous sire, was the tack trunk outside Golden Master’s door with “T. O’Neill” stamped on it and made locally for King Of Diamonds’ visit to Dublin Horse Show.

GORTFREE Hero, Sean Barker’s Irish Draught stallion class winner, had an unorthodox makeover for Dublin but it was tame compared to his homecoming reception.

“I brought him in from the field on Wednesday, got out my old Aldi power washer and hosed him down, then straight up to Dublin!” said his owner who credits RTÉ’s Tracy Piggott for helping to have “Frank”, as Gortfree Hero is known as at home, allowed in the pre-Grand Prix parade with Andrew Gardiner on Sunday.

Then it was home to a (Gortfree) Hero’s welcome in Tourmakeady on Sunday night where 200 locals turned up for his homecoming which local parish priest Fr John Kenny arranged with neighbours and Sean’s wife, Eileen, children William, Shauna and Emer.

“Even my 85-year-old mother helped out,” added Sean. Frank was also the subject of hundreds of ‘selfies’ from his many jockeys on a memorable night.

Tatlow’s 45th Dublin Horse Show

KILKENNY show horse producer, Pat Loughlin, who had such a successful show at the RDS this year, has much to talk about with David Tatlow, considered one of the most successful equestrians in Britain. David Tatlow was a leading point-to-point rider, but became best known for riding and producing show horses. He is the only person to have produced and ridden three weight class winners in a single year at The Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

He has judged all over the world, including the RDS and has attended the Dublin Horse Show for the last 45 years, purchasing Irish horses and even rode the winner of the lightweight class in Dublin on one occasion.