IRISH Breeders’ Classic show director, Ronan Rothwell expressed his delight at this year’s bumper show at Barnadown.

He said: “I am delighted with this year’s show. We had record entries and the standard of jumping across the board was phenomenal. The top price foal in the Goresbridge Irish Breeders Classic Foal Auction made €18,000 and five foals sold for more than €10,000.

“Special credit must go to all our sponsors, little and large. I look forward to making next year’s show better again. Live streaming, an improved schedule and an extended dining area are a few of the things you can expect!”

Last Saturday’s consolational classes proved very competitive. In the five and six-year-old consolation final, 51 combinations went to post and from those, 10 delivered double clears. Mikey Pender and HHS Vancouver delivered the winning round in 37.92 seconds. Owned and bred by Marion Hughes, this Indoctro-sired gelding has been consistently placed in the Studbook Series this year. In Millstreet International, the pair were victorious in the five-year-old Grand Prix final.

Junior rider Ciaran Nallon is really making his mark on the senior circuit and he took the runner-up place. Riding Louise Quinn’s Ted Talks, he lodged clear in 39.46 for second. Slotting into third place was Tim MacDonagh and Hollypark Quality, clear in 41.76.

Following a great show at Galway Equestrian, Gemma Phelan added to her record when she delivered a clear with Curra Brigader in 41.96 for fourth, ahead of Jason Foley riding Sharon Fitzpatrick’s Keatingstown Olympic Star. Derek McConnell topped off his results when taking sixth with his own DBS Looks Royal, clear in 42.36.

FOOT-PERFECT

The seven and eight consolation class proved equally as competitive, with only four combinations delivering double clears. Taking the win was Edward Doyle with a foot-perfect performance aboard Cruise Mor in 41.97. Owned and bred by Peader Byrne, the mare is by Furisto’s Diamond out of the Cruising-sired mare Ballynahia Cruise.

Adrienne Dixon was back in the ribbons when she took the runner-up spot with Santa Catalina, clear in 42.22. Bred by Kildare’s Paddy Quinlan and owned by Quinlan and GBBS International, the mare is by Capitalist out of the Ghareeb-sired dam, Buenos Aires.

Annemarie Fitzpatrick also delivered a clear with Harry and Barbara Fitzpatrick’s HHS Fondue, but in the slower time of 45.03 for third. Francis Connors was last of the double clears with the Ballywalters Farms-owned Canterbury Della Caccia in 45.76 for eventual fourth. Darragh Ryan was fastest of the four-faulters with Lisa Cawley’s home-bred Flexibility, in 73.42 for fifth. Vincent Byrne also had a pole on the ground with Peig Van Amerongen’s Floyd, in 73.58 for eventual sixth.