Death of John A. Cogan

THE death took place this week of renowned Irish Draught horse breeder John Anthony Cogan of Corlisheen, Riverstown, Co Sligo. After a very brave fight against illness, he died in the care of the North West Hospice on Monday.

Predeceased by his sister Anastasia, John A is survived by his loving wife Elizabeth (Deane), his sisters Ann Harrington (Thurles), Mary Walsh (Mullingar), Lucy Maguire (Dublin), Julia Marren (Croghan), brothers Gerard (Frenchpark), Colman (Kilmovee), Brian (Kilmovee), Paul (Lough Bo), extended family and many friends.

His funeral Mass took place on Wednesday in St Patrick’s Church Ballyrush with burial in the adjoining cemetery. An obituary will appear in an upcoming issue of The Irish Field.

Goresbridge sale dates

GORESBRIDGE Horse Sales has postponed its March 23rd-24th Sport Horse Performance Sale to the revised dates of May 4th-5th. Goresbridge’s Martin Donohoe said yesterday (Friday): “With the ongoing Covid situation, we are trying to do the right thing for everyone by postponing our upcoming March Sale to the tentative date of May 4th-5th. As it is a Sport Horse Performance Sale, we feel that we cannot have the sale just online only but at the same time, we know people need to sell their horses.”

FEI extend international ban

The FEI has imposed a further two-week extension of the shutdown of all international events in mainland Europe until April 11th 2021 due to the ongoing outbreak of the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). The extended lockdown applies to all FEI disciplines in Austria, Belgium, Spain, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Sweden. The shutdown will mean the cancellation of the FEI World Cup Finals for the second consecutive year.

Five-star win for Kenny at WEF

IRISH riders claimed all of the top five places in Thursday’s five-star $73,000 Adequan WEF Challenge Cup Round nine at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, USA. Offaly’s Darragh Kenny and Michael Kearins’ 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse Sligo Balou Boy (Balou de Rouet x Catiana) took victory after a 10-horse jump-off, with a clear in 33.75 seconds.

Galway’s Michael Duffy and Jeff Ten Halven took the runner-up spot in 34.90, while Paul O’Shea and Skara Glen’s Chancelloress finished third in 35.40. Shane Sweetnam and Alejandro finished fourth (35.87), while Cian O’Connor completed the Irish clean sweep when guiding Kilkenny (ISH) to fifth (36.24). The $401,000 five-star Grand Prix will be steamed live on www.pbiec.coth.com on Saturday night at 12am Irish time.