MOUNTAIN and Moorland classes were added to the showing programme at Balmoral Park this year and while the entry wasn’t large, the two flat classes staged in the P&O Arena on Thursday morning proved competitive – as did the championship.

The inaugural title holder is the Dale gelding Copleylane Ringo, an all-rounder who won the large breeds’ class under Kathryn Smiley. She also partnered the black gelding by Lowside Noble John to section honours at the Northern Ireland Festival in Cavan.

Connections of Copleylane Ringo are planning an extensive tour of major Scottish and English shows in a bid to secure a ticket for the Horse of the Year Show, having been second in a qualifier at the Royal Highland last year. Smiley (19) is a salesperson in her father Charlie’s Eden Car Sales in Carrickfergus.

The reserve sash went to Armcott Stables’ Loneash Melanie, winner of the small breeds’ class in the hands of 15-year-old Megan Dumigan. The pair are regular prize-winners in Welsh classes at Irish Pony Society shows and they too have been placed in HOYS qualifiers.

There was a small entry for Saturday morning’s M&M working hunter class which was won by Co Wicklow exhibitor Avril Hobson’s Welsh cob Brimstone Bowman, a 17-year-old dun gelding by Brimstone Flyaway out of the Brierwood Rocket mare Synod Silk Bow.