THERE were only nine entries in total for the ridden Mountain and Moorland classes at last year’s Balmoral Show so it was good to see them increase to 14 last week when those forward on Thursday were judged in the P & O Ferries Arena by Amy Sloan-Thomas.

The small breeds’ class was dominated by the Gordon family from Donaghadee as, riding for their mother Heather, Ollie won on the 16-year-old Welsh gelding Lady Milan (Lacy Pishyn – Mafdre Maidd) with Erin finishing second on Gigman Yankee Doodle Dandy, a 10-year-old chesnut gelding by Heaton Romeo.

The champion and reserve were those combinations placed first and second in the large breeds’ class. These were South Co Dublin’s Laura Mulqueen with her mother Ola’s seven-year-old brown gelding Birkettbank Fergie (Lunesdale Black Ice – Townend Fern, by Heltondale Bonzo Boy) and Soul-be Adgey Courtney with Joanne Stuart’s five-year-old dun Hwylog Ivanhoe mare Hillgarth Olympic Gold.