IRISH Sport Horse Mulberry Lane, bred by Brian Clinghan, claimed Hickstead’s Barberstown Castle Supreme Ridden Horse Championship for the second year in-a-row, ridden by Craig Kiddier. The 10-year-old gelding by O.B.O.S Quality 004 out of Lisnarree (ISH) by Hermes de Reve secured his place in the Supreme championship after winning the Working Hunter Championship for the third year in-a-row and had a tie-break ride-off against another Irish Sport Horse, lightweight hunter champion Flash Point (Watermill Swatch (TB) x Quality Dame (ISH)), a six-year-old gelding bred by Sean Jones and ridden by Robert Walker.
The two Irish-bred horses each scored 29 in the supreme ridden horse championship, so they had to battle it out to see who would claim the coveted title. In a surprise move during the tense final show for the judges, Craig and Mulberry Lane jumped the privet hedge in the International Arena, which brought spectators to their feet and secured them the title!
“Every year I’ve thought, ‘Surely I can’t do it again,’ but he comes here and loves it,” Craig said afterwards. “Other horses like him just aren’t around. He’s a show horse that jumps, and that’s what a true working hunter should be.”
As a six-year-old, Flash Point is sure to grow from this experience and no doubt will return to try again for the supreme title - in the meantime, the Hickstead reserve supreme title is an impressive one to add to his CV. Flash Point’s half-brother View Point, another Irish Sport Horse bred by Sean Jones, was Hunter champion twice at Hickstead and went overall supreme in 2022.
On Saturday, the Irish Horse Board awarded its highest-placed Irish-bred prize to Centre Court II, ridden by Sally Iggulden, who finished second in the British Horse Feeds & IDHS (GB) Ridden Irish Draught Sport Horse/Part-Bred Irish Draught Championship. Entrants had to have a minimum of 25% proven Irish Draught breeding. Centre Court II (ISH) [TIH] is a six-year-old by Cougar (ISH) out of Noras Diamond (ID) by Young Carabawn (ID), bred by PJ Roche.
Irish Draught
Blarney Quercus (ID) (Baltydaniel Romeo out of Moyglass Colleen by Coille Mor Hill), an eight-year-old gelding bred by Caroline Colthurst, won the British Horse Feeds & IDHS (GB) Supreme Ridden Irish Draught Championship, after winning the Full Irish Draught Championship. He also took the Irish Horse Board prize for the highest-placed Irish-bred in the class.
His rider Charles Le Moignon said afterwards: “This horse was bred by Lady Caroline Colthurst at Blarney Castle, and my owners, Peter and Kathy Bowdler, bought him as a six-month-old foal when he won the foal class at Dublin Horse Show.
“Since I met this horse, I have been completely taken by the Irish Draught because the temperament is so fantastic and the soundness. It’s essential.”
Wednesday saw Connemara pony Churchfield Tulla Bluebell, ridden by Tabby Morgan-Evans, taking the Coldstream Equestrian BS Winter 138cm Championship, with the only clear in the jump-off! Meanwhile, Casey-Lee Millar placed second in the 133cm Show Hunter Pony class with Out of the West and, in the coloured classes, Mr Vincent, under Isabella Mears Wood, won the Hogged cob ridden Reserve Champion and The Boss, ridden by Loren Gaskin,won the Traditional small ridden class.