“WE feel incredibly fortunate to have had such a special friend for over 20 years.”

They were the words of Dermott Lennon after his World Champion mount and family pet, Liscalgot, passed away at his yard in Banbridge, Co Down, last Saturday at the age of 25.

Bred by Terence Harvey in 1991 out of Tulla’s Pride, the Touchdown-sired Irish Sport Horse mare arrived to Lennon as a four-year-old and together the pair reached enormous heights, the pinnacle being crowned the World Champions in Jerez, Spain, in 2002.

Lennon and Liscalgot were a principal part of the gold medal-winning Irish team at the European Championships in Arnhem, Holland, in 2001. Last to go for the team, with the hopes of the nation resting on their shoulders, Liscalgot rose to the occasion and jumped a clear round to clinch the gold medal for Ireland. They went on to finish sixth individually.

They became the specialist anchor combination for the Irish team and were members of an incredible nine winning Nations Cup teams between the year 2000 and 2001, including the Aga Khan at the Dublin Horse Show in 2000 and Spruce Meadows in Calagary, Canada.

Together they also won numerous Grand Prix around the world, including Modena, Italy (2001) Stockholm, Sweden (2001) and the World Cup qualifier in Dortmund, Germany (2002).

However, Lennon being crowned the World Champion stands out as one of the major highlights of the great mare’s career, although there have been many good days outside of the sport too, the Lennons explained.

UNFORGETTABLE

“It was unforgettable,” Sandra Lennon told The Irish Field. “We will never forget it, the atmosphere was amazing. I ended up grooming at the show because we were short staffed and we didn’t want to bring anyone new in as she was a little bit funny and fussy with new people.

“Everyday she went out and did her job and every day she was fantastic. It was a dream come true.”

Liscalgot, or Shirley, as she was fondly known as at home, was incredibly intelligent and loved her job. “She had a brilliant attitude and such a good brain. She could go and win a class one day and jump the Grand Prix the next day, she wasn’t fussed,” Sandra continued.

“She was the lady of the yard, always fed first, just the best horse to look after. Whenever Dermott started the lorry and she wasn’t on it, she would go mental. She didn’t want to be left behind, she just loved the show circuit.”

Sadly, Liscalgot’s glistening career in the show ring was cut short when she was injured in her stable as a 12-year-old.

She suffered from a joint problem and never made it back to the top of the sport, where she undoubtedly belonged. There are not many Irish-bred mares that have achieved what she did in her short time at the top.

PROGENY

However, her career switched to the breeding paddock where she also excelled and has left a huge legacy of stunning progeny to carry her name.

Her owners at the time, the syndicate of Woods Rosbotham, Sam Thompson and James Acheson, went down the road of embryo transfer and she has already bred a number of 1.50m performers.

Some of those progeny include Calgot Hero (Udancer Hero), who was placed sixth in the 1.50m Premier Series Grand Prix at Louth County show this year, Calgot Pleasure (For Pleasure), Class Of Touch Hero (Radco D’Houtveld), an eight-year-old that the Lennons think a lot of and who started the sport late due to having foals of her own, and Vivalgot, a six-year-old gelding by Vivaldo Van Het Costersveld, who Liscalgot carried herself.

World renowned Belgian breeder Luc Henry, who had a big influence on Liscalgot’s breeding career at the beginning when they began to take embryos, has a number of her progeny at his Hero Stud in Belgium, including Calgot Verdi (Verdi TN N.O.P.) and Calgot Valent (Valent) with Dutch breeder Jac Remijnse.

Closer to home, at Belmont House Stud in Co Offaly, Andrea Etter is breeding from another daughter, Bright Life Hero (Radco D’Houtveld), also in conjunction with Henry.

The Lennons bought Liscalgot after she had finished her breeding career so she could live out her days with those who loved her the most. She died of a heart attack in her stable last Saturday.

“She was doing great, she looked really well, she never lost any of her muscle. We were happy that we didn’t have to make the call,” Sandra said.

“She was a horse of a life time and we will always remember all the doors she opened for us.”

RIP Liscalgot 1991-2016