Different horsepower for Holly Dennis

AMONG those who attended the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show at the weekend was Holly Dennis, who was paying her annual visit to the RDS showgrounds along with her parents Alan and Debbie plus her sister Shauna. The girls’ older sister Ellie, who worked in racing for two years, stayed at home to look after their show cobs and a Connemara.

As July turned into August, 16-year-old Holly became the first Irish woman and the youngest-ever Irish rider to compete in the Red Bull Romaniacs, an enduro (motorcycle) rally held annually over five days in Sibiu, Romania. It combines an inner-city obstacle prologue (akin to arena eventing) with four gruelling off-road days navigating the wilderness, rivers, and peaks of the Carpathian Mountains (akin to cross-country riding, endurance and the Grand National in one!).

Well able to ride horses, and willing to help out when required, Holly’s preferred mode of transport is her BETA 125 RACE on which she is competing in Round 6 of the ACU British Extreme Enduro Championship in Tong, Bradford tomorrow. Holly is currently lying sixth in the Youth Championship League.

Special ewe for Rothwell

WHEN Mary Rothwell took out her ‘phone to show us something special, we didn’t expect that to be a photograph of a black and white animal. Well, it was, but it was a photo of a Dutch Spotted ewe, which Mary bought for her nephew Stephen Rothwell for his 11th birthday present, having persuaded her parents, Derry and Emily, to help fund the purchase.

Stephen was helping the family at Dublin from Tuesday through to Saturday, but spent Sunday at home, tidying up the ewe who he hopes to get to a couple of agricultural shows before the season ends.

Mercedes-Benz a slick support for HHS team

THOSE watching the young horse and international show jumping classes would have noticed the team from Hughes Horse Stud - Mikey Pender and Molly Hughes Bravo - wearing Mercedes-Benz gear. It sure is a slick partnership with Mercedes-Benz Ireland, which also extends to the naming of some of the horses, including Mercedes-Benz HHS Cyprus, who was third in Sunday’s Speed Championship.

128cm final runs late

THERE were some connections concerned that the starting time of Friday’s Northstar 128cm championship was pushed out to 7.50pm to allow for the inaugural RDS Elite foal sale to take place in the Laya Arena immediately after the Aga Khan. The foal sale was a great success (see report on page 112), but it meant the 128cm class did not finish until after 9pm under floodlights - a big ask for young children. They did get to familiarise under the lights the evening before. It is important that the 128cm final stays in the main arena, however, not like the five-year-old championship which was moved to Simmonscourt.

Karlswood Grooms’ award

CIAN O’Connor’s Karlswood - big sponsors across the show - once again put up €10,000 for the grooms’ awards at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show. O’Connor said: “Grooms are a huge part of the reason we are able to achieve the results we do, and we’re proud to play a small part in recognising and celebrating the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make every rider’s dreams possible. Congratulations to all of this year’s deserving winners, and to every groom who gives so much to our horses and our sport.”

The first place prize of €5,000 went to Shane Sweetnam’s groom Seamus McKeever. Tess Falanga, who grooms for USA’s Karl Cook, received €3,000 for second place. Third place and €2,000 was awarded to Aurora Cherubini, groom for Belgian rider Olivier Philippaerts.