THIS year’s winner of the Connolly’s Red Mills Amateur Champion of Champions final was the nine-year-old Sligo Candy Boy gelding Highview Tallorder who is owned by his rider Amy Watchorn and her husband Rob O’Farrell.

The nine-year-old chesnut Irish Sport Horse, who qualified at Ballivor, was bred in Co Roscommon by the late John Gilboy out of the Castana mare Ardcarne Bluebell. Like most others at the finals, he is entered at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show (in the older small hunter class) but is first heading to today’s show in Kilmacanogue.

“Rob and I have owned ‘Will’ for nearly two years now,” revealed South Co Dublin-based Watchorn, a clinical psychologist. “He was sourced by Jamie Smyth and Ryan Anderson and had his first season out with them in 2024. We’ve mainly been showing but have also done some working hunter, unregistered show jumping and dressage.

“Our biggest wins to date were winning the hunter championship at Carnew last year while we were reserve ridden horse champion at Killossery earlier this month. Winning this Champion of Champions final is a dream come true for me and Rob was absolutely thrilled when he won the best turned-out groom award. He’s not from a horsey background but is my biggest supporter, coming to all shows with me for the past five years as groom. It was great to see him being recognised.”

The best turned-out awards were judged by Caroline Davis and Majella Grey who represented the joint sponsors Connolly’s Red Mills’ sister brand Carr & Day & Martin and Showing Ireland respectively. Their winner of the best turned-out horse award in the Amateur final was the 14-year-old Chipolini VM Z gelding Mastermind who finished third under his owner, Aoife Hagan.