TWO qualifiers for the Irish Draught performance championship at Balmoral Show (May 14th to 17th) were held last Sunday at Tubberbride Equestrian where they were run by the Western Region of Eventing Ireland, in conjunction with the third round of their Berts Properties Starter Series.

Westport’s Amy Grady had good reason to be pleased with her foray into Co Sligo as she qualified three horses to compete in the Main Arena at Balmoral Park. The Farmhill Highlander gelding Murrisk Paudie not only won his four and five-year-old class, but also picked up the day’s Sea Warrior Sea Supplments turn-out prize.

Judges Philip Scott (flat) and Valerie Davis (jumping) both had Murrisk Paudie at the top of their respective marks for a total of 144.5. Grady also qualified in fourth place with DS Another Bouncer (132.5), a 2020 full-brother of DS Ballagh Bouncer. The Grady pair were split by the Tim MacDonagh-partnered five-year-old duo of Hollypark Rock On Rocco (140.5), a grey son of Carrickrock Close Shave, and the Casnova roan Hollypark Cass (139), who qualified for Dublin last season.

“Murrisk Paudie was bred and is owned by my great-uncle, Michael Grady,” revealed a delighted Amy. “He is out of the Agherlow mare Ashlawn Dancer. I broke and produced him.” According to the Irish Horse Register, Ashlawn Dancer has bred nine foals, four of them by ID stallions and five by thoroughbreds.

Tim MacDonagh won the six-year-olds and upwards Irish Draught Balmoral qualifier on Hollypark Finn at Tubberbride \ Sagittarian Photography

Foiled by Grady in the younger horse class, Craughwell’s Tim MacDonagh claimed the honours in the second qualifier for six-year-olds and upwards on Hollypark Finn who, too, was the pick of both judges, winning on a total of 146 marks. Fourth in Dublin last August, this 2019 Castlegar Cool Mist gelding was bred by Tom Burke out of the Welcome Flagmount mare Castlegar Katie, who has been bred exclusively to ID stallions.

Also qualifying for Balmoral here were Duncan McFadyen with the 2016 Harkaway Lionhawk grey Ox View Ali (142), Amy Grady with the 2019 Farmhill Highlander mare Countess of Murrisk (141.5), who was third in her class at Balmoral last May and qualified for Dublin, and Marie Byrne with Knocknagow Midnight Express (136.5). The last-named, a 2017 Carrickcottage Star gelding, had failed to qualify at Gransha the previous day.

The final qualifiers for the performance Irish Draught championship at Balmoral are taking place tomorrow at Clare Equestrian, where they will again be run by the Western Region of Eventing Ireland.