A FIRM favourite on the show jumping calendar, the Hughes family played host to their two-day HHS Annual Show last week in Cuffesgrange, Kilkenny with a mixture of classes from age classes, right up to Grand Prix.

The feature class on day one was the Connolly’s Red Mills 1.35m Mini Grand Prix and it was Kilkenny’s Jack Ryan who ended his day on a very positive note when taking the win. Riding his uncle Seamus Drea’s eight-year-old Cornascriebe Emerald, he was the fastest of 33 double clears in 22.39 from a starting field of 68 combinations.

Bred by Carol Armstrong, the eight-year-old gelding is by Emerald and out of the Ballinvella-sired Cornascriebe Vella. This gelding began his career with Diarmuid Ryan and later Aoife Dooley.

Robert Splaine and Coolcorron Lachlan took the runner-up spot, when they clocked 23.43. Owned by Splaine and Story Horse Farm and bred by John O’Sullivan, the nine-year-old mare is by Goodluck VDL and is out of Dicksgrove Colleen.

Third place belonged to junior rider Isobel Hourigan and ESI Carvalho in a time of 23.83. This 16-year-old gelding is by Padinus out of the Quidam Junior I-sired Cyndara.

Home rider Molly Hughes Bravo and HHS Ice Flo accounted for fourth place when stopping the clock in 23.87. Owned by Maurice Devlin and bred by Kevin Meagher, the eight-year-old mare is by Iceman De Muze out of HHS Go With The Flo. The pairing took the honours in the 1.35m Mervue Equine Leinster Tour at Barnadown last month.

Slotting into fifth place was Harrison Blair and L’Esprit Hero Z, clear in 24.14. Owned by Rockmount Farms, the 14-year-old gelding was bred by Gerry Marron and Luc Henry. Sixth place was secured by James Derwin, who was riding the Pamela Shorthall-owned Killerisk Can Ya (Can Ya Makan x Mermus R) in a time of 24.17.

Madame wins

Friday’s jumping began with the Carl Webb-sponsored 1.15m class with 77 going to post. Claiming victory was Taylor Cummins and Madame Gazelle when double clear in 31.38.

Owned by Johnny Greene and bred by the late Dr Noel Cawley, the eight-year-old mare is by Luidam and out of the Cruising mare Overruled. This mare was previously campaigned by Ellie Greene up to 1.20m level.

Cummins took another share of the €500 prize fund as she took fifth with the Kilcreene Enterprize-owned six-year-old Oscar Van De Zeiloek, clear in 33.22. Junior rider Niamh Devlin and HHS Toronto were just over a second behind the winner in 32.46 for second place. It was a good day for Feaha Moore as she took third with Captain Luis Magic Touch (32.58) and sixth with Wrenwood Khaleesi (33.94). Fourth place was filled by junior rider Kate Walsh and Redshire Molly, clear in 32.60.

Moloney in form

There was a big turnout for the Castlefield Breeding Farm 1.25m with 87 combinations battling it out in the two-phase class. Fresh from a series of good results at Mullingar CSI2*, Emily Moloney was back in the ribbons as she took the win aboard Ian Smyth’s Cruising on the Ridge. The combination clocked the winning round in 27.42.

Bred by Ian Smyth, the mare is by Kannan and out of Capitol Cruis (Ard VDL Douglas). Capitol Cruis was also competed by Emily Moloney with much success on the national scene.

Tom Foley was Moloney’s closest rival, delivering a clear with the Josephine Slattery-owned Prada in 27.98. Hallie Crowe and her own seven-year-old Nikita came home with nothing to add in 28.04 for third. Accounting for fourth place was Tadhg Beecher and Loughnatousa Gilbert (28.09), ahead of Emma O’Connor and Quality Diamond (30.39) in fifth and Darragh Ryan with Millie Mf (30.88).

Young horses

The Carr & Day & Martin 1.15m five-year-old class on Friday featured a €1,000 prize fund and attracted 54 combinations, with 23 producing double clears. The victory remained at home with resident rider Max Foley partnering the Marion Hughes-owned and bred HHS Colorado to a double clear in 33.51. The gelding is by El Barone 111 out of the Cavalier Royale-sired HHS Chantilly Lace. This combination has proved consistent in the DAFM Studbook series and the Hibernia League.

Little divided the next placing as Shane Dalton and KDS Grand A Khan stopped the clock in 33.92. Jointly owned by Dalton and Thomas Quigley and bred by Angela Kelly, the gelding is by Grandorado Tn out of the Cobra mare Cobhra Khan. Dalton also accounted for third when he guided the Ennisnag Stud-owned Unicum-H (President x Cicero Van Parnell Z) to a clear in 35.49.

Jackilynn Breslin and Phileine Ve accounted for fourth when they stopped the clock in 35.92. Bred by J Harke, the mare is by Comthago out of Akili, by Guidam.

It was a profitable outing for Jack Ryan as he took the win and third place in the Foran Equine 1.25m six-year-old class, which offered €1,000 in prize money. Ryan, who was riding the Northlawn Farm-owned stallion Tarthagobreaker-M (Carthago x Heartbreaker), recorded the winning round in 27.47.

Ryan also took third with the Susan Fitzpatrick-owned N-Conthagirl DS when he lodged another clear in 28.49. Brendan Murphy and Osh Shirsheen divided Ryan’s placings when they came home clear in 28.42 to take second. Bred by Alan O’Brien, the mare is by Corporal VDL and out of KMS Zavallient.

Max Foley was back in the ribbons, claiming third with the Marion Hughes-owned and bred HHS Miss B (Duel De Hsp x Der Senatt III) clear in 28.95. Accounting for fifth place was junior rider Launa McCann and Bellcross Candy Lady, ahead of Leah Stack and Rosconnell Tango in sixth.