CONTINUING the tradition of great equine classes at the Iverk Show, the show horses and show jumping events lived up to their wonderful history.

In the show ring, the two All-Ireland finals were the highlight of the programme. The Suir Engineering-sponsored Broodmare and Foal Championship was won by Jason Dunphy from Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny. Since this championship began way back in the 1980s, this is the first time a ‘local’ breeder won.

The mare Kilnaspic Take a Chance on Me qualified at Dungarvan Show. She was bred by Gearoid Duggan and is by OBOS Quality. She showed herself exceptionally well and proved a worthy winner. Her colt foal, which is her first foal, is by Rosier.

On the other hand, the second All-Ireland final was held at Iverk for the first time. The Tattersalls Ireland Treo Eile Pathway Series for thoroughbred mares or geldings was won by the ex-racehorse Native River. Born in 2010, the highlight of his career was winning the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup when ridden by Richard Johnson. Native River was bred in Ireland, is by Indian River out of Native Mo.

Owned by Emily MacMahon from Co Meath, the concept of the championship giving retired racehorses a second opportunity to excel in another equestrian discipline is wonderful. And Native River proves the point it can be done.

Big winners

Other big winners at Iverk this year were Dermot Molloy from Kilkenny, Tania Rafter from Ballyfoyle and Kieran O’Gorman from Co Cork.

Dermot won the young horse championship with his three-year-old Irish Draught gelding, Jack Glen Shannon by Clogheen Captain Jack. Tania was successful in the ridden horse championship with Dingo Dollar, a five-year-old gelding by Cappa Aristocrat. Kieran took the honours in the foal championship with his colt foal by Fountain of Youth.

In the pony classes, the competition was as keen as ever with numbers in some of the working hunters topping 25. Overall, the standard of horses was better this year than for the past couple of years with numbers up over 100 on last year.

Show jumping

In show jumping, the winner of the €2,000 Nissan Championship at 1.35m was Richard Hourigan riding his own Killaloan Cobra Carel. He is by Cobra out of a mare by Harlequin du Carel and bred by Owen Cooney in 2013.

In the nine-horse jump-off, he stopped the clock with a clear round in 41.52 seconds. In second was Paddy O’Donnell on Kikedou, 0.09 seconds behind the winner. Molly Hughes Bravo was third with HHS Orchidee.

Judge Laura O’Connell described the competition as “top class” and praised the superb condition of the ground despite the dry summer, which allowed for excellent riding. This was confirmed by many of the riders and owners.

Thanks, and congratulations, for this must go to the Iverk show jumping committee, who watered the course many times during the week beforehand. As the Iverk Show looks forward to its 200th anniversary next year, one must remember many of our top riders competed at Iverk. Many also began their riding careers at shows like Iverk.

In 1932, horses from the Irish Free State Equestrian School won the top two classes. The great Tommy Wade and Dundrum won the open class in 1965.