FOR the second time in three years, the stallion Ardnacashel Monarch, ridden as usual by Emma Jackson for Janice Reddy, won the Pegus Horse Feed performance Irish Draught championship at last week’s Balmoral Show.

The grey 10-year-old had to settle for the reserve spot here 12 months ago behind the since exported Two Mile Nigel but, on Thursday morning, he bounced back to crowned champion with Clandeboye again standing reserve as he did in 2024.

The John Trearty-bred Ardnacashel Monarch is a son of Beechmore Crest out of the Star Kingdom mare White Goose. He has no performance record with Eventing Ireland or Show Jumping Ireland but does have an excellent record in these breed performance classes and workers.

He is certainly the apple of Reddy’s eye. “Monarch combines the traditional Irish Draught attributes of presence, quality and substance with the athleticism and rideability demanded in modern performance classes.

“His powerful jump, elegant movement and willing temperament have made him a standout performer under saddle, while his unmistakable presence in the ring has seen him capture the attention of judges and spectators alike. Emma has showcased him to perfection on each outing.”

A Class 1 ID stallion, Ardnacashel Monarch stands at Ardnacashel Equestrian where he is available to breeders by AI only. He has already made an encouraging start as a sire, with a strong crop of youngstock on the ground, the majority of whom are quality half-breds showing plenty of promise.

Lady Perdita Blackwood’s eight-year-old grey gelding Clandeboye (Scrapman – Libertias Blue, by Western Light) also contested the older heavyweight ridden hunter class, where he finished fifth, and the older working hunter class where he placed second. He was bred in Co Down by Miriam Burney.

The Co Galway owner/rider team of owner Tom McNamara and his daughter Maria, won the four and five-year-old class with the five-year-old grey gelding Shanbally Pippalo Pat (Cappa Aristocrat – Roundtower Blue, by All The Diamonds) who they purchased locally from his breeder, Martin Donnellan. Sammy Weston is another rider who does well in these classes and she finished second with Robert and Jane Huey’s Ainninn Kamaria (Lionwood Kinsales Lad – Ainninn Moonlight, by Crosstown Dancer), a five-year-old grey mare bred by Paul Mullen.

While the five-year-olds are nice horses in their own right, it was difficult for them to compete against two of the most experienced horses in the country in these classes and the judges couldn’t really look anywhere else for their champion and reserve. They then just had to make that difficult final decision.