Róisín Sheridan
MULLINGAR Equestrian Centre hosted the first of the four qualifiers for this year’s Dublin Horse Show for four, five, six and seven & eight-year-old horses last Wednesday.
There were just seven places on offer in the four-year-old section and 53 lined-out to start. In a new departure this year, all four of this year’s four-year-old qualifiers will be judged by Jens new Meyer and Harm Thormaehlen from Germany.
Meyer is a well regarded stallion owner and breeder. He is involved with the world-famous Hannovarian Society and has worked at their State Stud Celle. He stands both show jumping and dressage stallions including Cyrano de Bergerac, Copyright and Beltano.
Thormaehlen is the breeder of the outstanding stallion Capitol 1, as well as Cera 1, Come On, Fein Cera and Quite Easy 1 to name but a few.
Time is not a factor in the four-year-old division; the judges award points in the second round based on future potential, ride ability and jumping technique/natural ability
Jess Codd’s Olympic Star (Olympic Lux – Aldatus Z) ridden by Jason Higgins dominated the class taking first place by a considerable margin. The horse is now owned by Jason Higgins and Ger O’Neill. The judges awarded him 93 points, 7.5 ahead of runner-up Could Be Anything (Olympic Lux – Harlequin du Carel) and Liam O’Meara on 85.5. Third place went to Pacino Amiro (Pacino – NC Amiro) with 81 points.
With just nine places to be had in the five-year-olds, 106 combinations lined out. JM Penelope (Toulon – OBOS Quality) ridden by Vincent Byrne finished in first place with a jump-off time of 32.93. John Mulligan and Mohill Spring (Mohill Treble C out of Mohill Cruising Gypsy) were second in 33.23 while third place went to HVL Symphony (Orestus – Cavalier Royale) and Declan Egan in 34.19.
LARGEST ENTRY
The six-year-old class had the largest entry with 109 going to post for the nine places on offer. Ger O’Neill and Killossery Kaiden took the top-spot producing a jump-off time of 29.77.
Jenny Rankin riding Deirdre Bourns’ MHS Attraction (Numero Uno – French Ballerina) took the runner-up spot in 30.56 while James Hogg slotted into third place with European Cruise (Hortensia De Litrange – Quel Hero De Muze) in 30.90.
Killossery Kaiden has an impressive pedigree, by Lux Z he is out of Killossery Kruisette a mare that enjoyed international success for Ireland under Captain David O’Brien for the Army Equitation School.
The seven and eight-year-old class offered just five qualifying places and 84 contenders started over the 1.40m track.
Marion Hughes’ HHS Hercules (unknown) partnered by MJ Pender finished in first place stopping the clock at 38.62 in the timed decider. Second place went to Ard Leaderman (Luidam – Ard VDL Douglas) and Robert Harrison in 39.14. Jordan Coyle and Harakiri Z (Hardrock Z – Calendo) took third in 40.27.
The next qualifier takes place in The Meadows Equestrian Centre in Co Armagh on Wednesday, May 18th. The 30 horses that qualified in Mullingar are prohibited from competing at another qualifier and each rider can only qualify two horses for each class.
Eight places in the national classes are also held for Irish riders who have missed the qualifiers because they are away at CSIO shows on international duty.