TWO young people who attended the Irish Sport Horse young breeders’ national competition at Ravensdale Lodge Equestrian Centre last Saturday are deserving of special mention.

Competing in the Youth division, Donaghadee’s Anya Teuton surprised even herself when winning her overall section and, against much older opposition, placing second in both the in-hand and conformation assessment phases.

“Anya absolutely loved the whole day!” said her mother Victoria who is well-known as a coach and a producer of young horses. “She’s so lucky that her pony, Lisrua Star, is a Connemara as we were able to pull him in from the field that morning and quickly had him looking quite smart.

“We knew Anya would be well able for the in-hand phase as she won the young handlers’ class at Clifden last August. However, she did really well in the theory test and the afternoon’s assessment phases so obviously knew more than she thought she did.

“Anya and her sister Rhia have gone around the pens in Clifden and the boxes at Cavan and Goresbridge while I’ve been looking at sales horses but I think she picked up on things I’ve said about horses I have been sent to break or produce to show. It was a really brilliant result and she now wants me to take her to the training day in Tuam (February 9th) which I’m happy to do.”

Rhia wasn’t at Ravensdale on Saturday as, having done exceptionally well in her Transfer Test, she had gone celebrating with their father, commentator Raymond Bready.

The five horses used in the afternoon session were all owned by Richard Sheane but were beautifully produced by Co Carlow’s Thomas Quigley who does much of the breaking for Cooley Farm.

Helping Thomas was his six-year-old son Robbie who, sitting close to the entrance to the arena when the geldings were being assessed for their athleticism, was delighted when the loose horses came alongside. “They want to talk to me as they know me,” stated the Shrewsbury Town supporter.