BUSINESSWOMAN and model Aisling Byrne, took the amateur show jumping championship at Liverpool International Horse Show last Saturday.
Her victory coming aboard her Irish Sport Horse, Wellview Classic Dream, was a fitting end to a competition sponsored by Irish Horse Gateway, which aims to connect the world to the Irish Horse.
Byrne, a former Miss Longford, drove away with a brand new Mini Cooper car as part of her winner’s prize. She produced the only double clear round of the competition, while a second Irish rider, Lucinda Roche, finished as runner-up with another Irish Sport Horse, WCE Falco.
Byrne operates her own, Journey Through Ireland travel business, which organises tours to Ireland for US and Canadian visitors, while she also works with Cecilia Holman Lee’s model agency in Limerick.
“We were working towards this show over Christmas and we were thrilled to be here,” commented Byrne after a glittering prize giving ceremony. “We are so proud that our horse is Irish-bred, we have had her for a number of years and she is the yard favourite. She is a great ambassador for an Irish horse because of her attitude, she is so honest and she really tries.”
Wellview Classic Dream is by Classic Vision out of a dam by Urlingford, while runner-up, WCE Falco, is by Cruising out of a Darco dam. Another Irish rider, Kristen Farr, finished fifth with R Candy.
Byrne also told how she manages to juggle a top flight sporting career with her work commitments: “It works out well with the time difference, I do a lot of my work at night time and this gives me a chance to ride early in the morning.
“I have never jumped at a show like this before with the crowds so close and the whole experience has been fantastic,” she said.
Horse Sport Ireland International Marketing Director, Elaine Hatton, who was attending the event, said: “We are delighted to support Liverpool International Show in this brave new initiative, which has been an outstanding success with sell-out crowds each day and the organisers deserve huge credit.
“It was fantastic to see two Irish riders with two Irish-bred horses fill the top two places on the podium and the perfect way to showcase Irish Horse Gateway.”
RUNNER-UP
Byrne had earlier scored two runner-up finishes on the opening day at Liverpool. She finished second with Wellview Classic Dream (ISH) in the 1.25m two-phase amateur class, one place ahead of another Irish rider, Lucinda Roche in third with Lucky Caros, while Roche also filled fourth place with WCE Falco (ISH).
Byrne also finished second in last Friday’s 1.15m two phase class with Deau behind British winner Tony Peason.
Banbridge rider Kirsten Farr gained a memorable win on the final day at Liverpool, when she won the Land Rover Experience 1.30m speed class with R Candy, to crown a superb three days for Irish amateur riders at the event.
Farr finished with over a second to spare over runner-up Jake Aston from Britain, while Lucinda Roche took seventh place for Ireland with Lucky Caros.
“This show is unreal. My horses have gone well all week and Flossie [R Candy] has been a real star moving me up to this level.
“She tends to do her own thing in the collecting ring, but when she jumps and turns like that in the arena I can forgive her anything,” said Farr, who also took fourth place in an earlier 1.20m speed class riding Jasper Bogibo Z.