UNLESS spectators remain in situ all day around Ring 2, the Irish Draught enthusiasts should give way to fans of another versatile breed just after 11am on Wednesday as the first of the Berney Bros Saddlery Connemara performance hunter classes at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show is judged by England’s Terry Pendry and Germany’s Kai Rüder.

As all have qualified, it’s difficult to single out any combination for particular attention in this class for five to seven-year-olds but, second last year, Pauline Dahill will be out to move up into the top spot with William Griffin’s six-year-old Ross Fear Bui gelding Hogan’s Charm.

Also returning to do battle are Ciara O’Connor Fiona Gahan’s seven-year-old Kippure Columbus gelding Firbolg Dun (fifth) and Sarah McGuire with her similarly-aged Lightening Star mare Star In The Night (fourth).

A cremello gelding we have to mention is Buachaill Buí as Anne Lyons’s Templebready Fear Buí seven-year-old, who will be ridden by her daughter Louise, not only competes in breed classes and under Irish Pony Society rules but also in Irish Pony Club competitions.

Although last year’s winners, and any successful past pony/rider combination, are ineligible to compete, there are still some very familiar pairings in the class for eight to 15-year-olds where, while Pendry remains as judge, Rüder will give way to fellow German Martin Plewa.

The Dargle Equine-owned, Amelia Durkan-ridden 10-year-old Classiebawn Black Jack gelding Busy Bee, who finished fifth here last August, has once again qualified as has another by the same sire, the Elizabeth Cooke-partnered 11-year-old Tawnagh Lad (see feature on pages 12-13) and Sophie Countess von Maltzan’s nine-year-old Silver Shadow stallion Bettyspark Shadow (Toby Lambe).

Mare owners will be interested in the performances of two other stallions in this class, P.J. Hegarty’s Rosedale Casper, a Turloughrevagh Star 10-year-old who will be partnered by David Kiely (as he was when finishing third in an EI100 (J) class at Kilguilkey House last month), and the Peter Lawlor-owned, Alicia Devlin Byrne-ridden I Love You Jazz, a nine-year-old son of I Love You Melody.

Also due to start in this DAFM prize-funded class having qualified at Tullylish, are Jackson Laing with Carol Murdoch’s eight-year-old Newgrange Lad gelding Doon Da Vinci who, back in May, were crowned Connemara working hunter champions at Balmoral Show.