Margie McLoone

WINNING a championship at the Dublin Horse Show is even more special when the whole family is involved and such was the case with Saturday’s working hunter pony champion, Knocklucas Chloe.

The 11-year-old King’s Master mare is owned by Cashel’s Fiona O’Dwyer but was ridden by Susie Doyle, who is trained by her mother Mary and had huge support when competing in Ring 2 from her sister Shannon and racehorse trainer father Pat, for whom O’Dwyer rides out when she has time – as does Susie before she goes to school.

“Although this mare does take a bit of riding, she is a lovely ride and absolutely loves her jumping,” said 17-year-old Susie, who was second on the bay last August.

O’Dwyer, who rode one of Pat Doyle’s horses in the charity race at Punchestown, competes with the bay, who was bred near Clonmel by Parick Kennedy, in Riding Club show jumping and eventing competitions as a member of the Mill Road club.

The reserve champion was the top Connemara Derrygimbla Storm, a 15-year-old Coral Dun gelding ridden by Randalstown’s Jodie Creighton for her mother Gillian.

The Southside Contract & Carpet Cleaners show hunter pony championship, held in Ring 1 on Sunday, was dominated by the larger animals and older riders, as the champion and reserve both came from the 158cms class.

The champion, and class winner, was the Balmoral hunter champion Carnsdale Irish Times, a seven-year-old Murphys Irish Diamond gelding ridden by Robyn Catterall for Mike Lewis.

Rebecca O’Neill, who is now working with Zurich Insurance in Wexford, took the reserve spot, as she did last August, with her 11-year-old Young Edmond gelding, Giants Causeway.

The popularity of the show hunter and working hunter pony classes at the RDS was evident in the large entry.