THE showing/performance horse season in the North Eastern Region of the Association of Irish Riding Clubs came to its conclusion last Sunday at Drynam’s Summer Show in the National Horse Sport Arena.

The hosts’ own Jill Brown marked the occasion by winning the My Cheval RC100 class and performance hunter championship on her well-known 10-year-old Irish Draught gelding A Heros Welcome (Gortfree Hero - Tawney Lady, by Cream Of Diamonds). Tara Hill’s Maura Walsh stood reserve on the equally well-known DTS First Flight.

That 10-year-old piebald mare went into the Louise Somers-judged championship carrying a blue ribbon, having finished second in the RC90 class to the 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Lisbrien Boy (Crannagh Hero - Jules Regal Sting, by Regal Sting), who was ridden by Thomastown and District’s Gillian Cody.

Drynam initiated a performance hunter double in the newcomers’ class, thanks to the efforts of Sabrina Birmingham and her nine-year-old bay mare Killinick Lady. Second there, Castle Hill’s Natalie Haake won the 70cm class on board her six-year-old ISH mare Dunluce Ruibin (Grandpas Diamond - Kiltar Dawn, by Aldatus Z).

Mullaghmore’s Sinead McNally, who had a bout of seconditis on Sunday with her thoroughbred mare Aughmallagh Lady, filled the runner-up spot in the RC80 class behind Calliaghstown’s Lisa Conway riding her five-year-old home-bred ISH gelding Diamond Clover Roller (Keamore Diamond Clover - Wrens High Roller, by High Roller).

Those who contested the Lindsey Ilona Brady-judged White’s Agri dressage section and the Maria Carrick-judged Horse Mad Store show jumping classes over the Shane Brooks-built courses will have plenty of chances to compete over the autumn and winter months.

However, special mention must be made of Ashbrook’s Gerry O’Byrne, who was the Pivotel Recruitment highest-placed senior dressage rider following his win in the RCP3 on his 11-year-old Connemara gelding Doon Finn (Newgrange Lad - Doon Maggie Ann, by Parkmore Bobby).

Drynam’s Aisling O’Sullivan was presented with the Pivotel Recruitment veteran horse award following her win in the veteran horse class on the 22-year-old ISH mare Solsboro Silver Pearl (Courage II - Knocknashee Lady, by Clover Hill). The same company sponsored the best turned-out award, which was won by Moyglare’s Ciara Geraghty for her turn-out of the 10-year-old ISH mare Rainstown Go With The Flo, a 10-year-old daughter of Rainstown Lad.