ONE year shy of its 40th anniversary, the Breeders’ Championship has carved out a core following on the Irish show circuit. The championship’s format, devised by the late Thady Ryan, of judging the mare and foal as a combination was a novel move back then, away from the traditional mare or foal classes.

The past champions Roll of Honour is both a ‘Who’s Who’ of showring greats and a timeline for tracking the changes that have taken place within the Irish Sport Horse herd. And something more difficult to quantify but evident in abundance is the pride when the winning numbers are called out.

Every competition evolves. Although still early days for assessing the graduates after the final was split into two different sections breeding for two different sports, histori-cally the most successful performers to date still originate from the championship’s early years.

Back then, we had the Army Equitation School’s Killossery (Clover Hill), the five-star event horse Tipperary Liadhnan (Fast Silver) and Parkmore Night (Carnival Night), the future sire of Parkmore Ed, a Burghley winner and British team bronze horse at the Hong Kong Olympics, amongst previous finalists.

As we approach the 40th anniversary, next year would be an opportune time for a ‘Where are they now’ review on more recent graduates.

In keeping with mare herd breeding trends, continental bloodlines are far more wide-spread. The archaic and endearingly optimistic sentence of ‘likely to make a top-class show jumper or eventer’ in a sales catalogue or advert rarely proves true. Horses are now purpose-bred for a sport or job.

New faces

This is the fourth year that the championship has been split into eventing and show jumping categories. For the eventing section, the recommendation that foals should have a minimum of 60% thoroughbred blood remains in place.

Does the championship appeal to every breeder? No. Most show jumping broodmares remain in their paddocks and rarely, if ever, see a showring. However, in the past three years, there’s been a noticeable number of new faces and performance bloodlines in this section.

Lurgan, Athlone, Charleville and West Clare were the same four venues for this year’s qualifiers, overseen by Clare Ryan, who sourced three of the London Olympic event horses Kilrodan Abbot, Master Crusoe and Ringwood Magister, who was teamed up with Maurice Coleman.

The judges for the Dublin final? Philipp Baumgart, a nephew of a previous Breeders’ Championship judge in Harm Thormählen, and Harm Sievers, an inspector for the Holsteiner Verband.

Each section of the Breeders’ Championship again offers a first prize of €3,000. The Lynn Aldridge Trophy, named after the late Sligo-born Irish Horse Board Director General, will be awarded to the winner of the show jumping section. Another trophy for the eventing champion will be presented by Irish Horse World editor Judith Faherty.

Whether a multiple championship owner or a first-time appearance, winning the Breeders Championship is the dream for these Dublin finalists. Now, lets meet them on pages 24-25.

1985 - Paddy Quirke’s Golden Sunset, by Well Read (TB) and Diamond Lad (ID) filly foal.

1986 - Dr Mervyn, Laurence Patterson’s Panarose Two, by Wilton House (TB) and Drumnaconnell West, filly foal by I’m A Star (TB).

1987 - Paddy Quirke’s Golden Sunset and Golden Future, colt foal by Diamonds Are Trumps (ID).

1988 - Pamela Miller’s Virginia Wolfa, by Regular Guy (TB) and Clonterm Airtime, colt foal by Diamond Lad (TB).

1989 - Violet Scott’s Ballysheil Queen, by Clover Hill (ID) and colt foal by Standard Bearer (TB).

1990 - Patrick Wafer’s Parkmore Jewel (ID) by Atlantic Boy and Parkmore Chance, filly foal by Kildalton Gold (ID).

1991 - Ronald D. McCombe’s Springfield Lady Nell, by Wilton House (TB) and colt foal by Santa’s Sleigh (TB).

1992 - Lorcan Allen’s Courtown Web, by Weavers Web (TB) and Courtown Drift, filly foal by Jacksons Drift (TB).

1993 - Ronald D. McCombe’s Springfield Lady Nell and colt foal by Satco (TB).

1994 - Pamela McCombe’s Springfield Lady Nell and colt foal by Santas Sleigh (TB).

1995 - J.J Hurst & Son’s My Irish Bride VII, by Chou Chin Chow (TB) and colt foal by Euphemism (TB).

1996 - John & Sharon Alexander’s The Blue Lady (ID) by Blue Rajah (ID) and Ardattin Blue Kate, filly foal by Valville (TB).

1997 - J.J Hurst’s My Irish Bride VII and colt foal by Euphemism (TB).

1998 - Derry Rothwell’s Greenhall Cailin Deas, by Mister Lord (TB) and Millennium Cruise, filly foal by Cruising (ISH) [TIH].

1999 - J.J Hurst’s My Golden Bonnie, by Euphemism and Gold Member, colt foal by Golden Cliff (TB).

2000 - Michael J. McCarthy M.R.C.V.S’s Levacide, by Edmund Burke (TB) and Kilnagross Twinkle, filly foal by Big Sink Hope (TB).

2001 - Callinafercy House Stud’s Callinafercy April (TB), by Strong Statement (TB) and Callinafercy Andros, colt foal by Glenlara (ID).

2002 - Hurst Show Horses’ April Dawn, by Ireland’s Pride (ID) and Tattygare Austin-tatious, colt foal by Limmerick (HOLST).

2003 - Mark English’s Dimmer Light, by Paris Lights (SF) and Kiltrom Dimmer Zed, filly foal by Ricardo Z (ZANG).

2004 - Hurst Show Horses’ Tattygare Golden Moments, by Euphemism (TB) and Tattygare Look At Me, filly foal by Porsch (BWP).

2005 - Jim Tempany M.R.C.V.S’s Leader Star, by I’m A Star (TB) and Tireragh Eternal Optimist, filly foal by Big Sink Hope (TB).

2006 - Dessie Gibson’s Hillsides Amazing Grace, by Big Sink Hope (TB) and Spin Doctor, colt foal by Top Of the World (TB).

2007 - Margaret Jeffares’ Debbie’s Clover, by Farney Clover (ISH) [TIH] and Ballykelly Mac Master, by Master Imp (TB).

2008 - John & Cathal Dinneen’s Kilshinihan Lass, by Big Sink Hope (TB) and colt foal by Ghareeb (TB).

2009 - Kieran O’Gorman’s Kildysert Royale, by Cavalier Royale (HOLST) and Brookfield Miss Lux, filly foal by Lux Z (HANN).

2010 - Kieran O’Gorman’s Kildysert Royale, and colt foal by Lux Z (HANN).

2011 - Derry Rothwell’s Millenium Cruise, by Cruising (ISH) [TIH] and Carsonstown Calypso, colt foal by Mermus R (KWPN).

2012 - Derry Rothwell’s Greenhall Dot, by Cruising (ISH) [TIH] and Greenhall Vivendi Cruz, filly foal by Ars Vivendi (HOLST).

2013 - Rosemary Connors’s Woodfield Valier, by Lucky Valier (ISH) and Woodfield Xtra, colt foal by Financial Reward (TB).

2014 - John & Mary Margaret Roche’s Assagart My Only Hope, by Big Sink Hope (TB) and Assagart Lord Lancer, by Castleforbes Lord Lancer (HOLST).

2015 - Dermot O’Sullivan’s Aidensfield Flamenco, by Je T’Aime Flamenco (BWP) and Quality Rosshill, colt foal by O.B.O.S Quality 004 (OLD).

2016 - Paula Howard’s Slatequarry Sasha, by Ghareeb (TB) and colt foal by Greenan Fort (TB).

2017 - John & Mary Margaret Roche’s Assagart My Only Hope and Assagart Lord Lancer, colt foal by Castleforbes Lord Lancer (HOLST).

2018 - Michael Egan & Danielle Cusack’s Hallowberry Destiny, by Ramiro B (BWP) and MD Sandyhill Sir Charles, colt foal by Clonaslee Captain Cristo (ISH) [TIH).

2019 - Patrick Wafer’s Parkmore Evita, by Ghareeb and Parkmore Tyson, colt foal by Tyson (KWPN).

2020/2021 - No championships due to Covid 19 pandemic.

2022 - Show jumping section: Linda Wafer’s Hot To Touch, by Lancelot (KWPN) and Quality Quantum 2B, colt foal by Quality Time (HOLST).

Eventing section: Patrick Wafer’s Parkmore Evita and Parkmore Tyra, filly foal by Tyson (KWPN).

2023 - Show jumping section: Bridget Devaney’s Emme, by Voss (KWPN) and colt foal by Hardrock VDL Z (KWPN).

Eventing section: Richard Drohan’s Golden Moments, by Golden Master (TB) and colt foal by News Anchor (TB).

2024 - Show jumping section: John McDonnell’s CBI Ice Queen, by Baltic VDL (KWPN) and Nice Queen, filly foal by Vancouver (KWPN).

Eventing section: Paula Howard’s Dernahatten Out Of Touch, by Bienamado (TB) and Timpany Northern Lights, colt foal by Sir Lando (TB).