Babington win

Kevin Babington won the $10,000 Shires Equestrian Welcome Stakes on the second day of the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament in Halifax, Massachusetts with Goodwins Loyalty.

Babington had earlier picked up a third place in the Fieldstone Show Park 1.30m Power and Speed class. A full report will be included in the international pages next week.

Duffy delight

Galway’s Michael Duffy (19), competing in France this weekend, is still on a high after his RDS win in the Talbot Hotel sponsored speed class on the Dermot Forde-bred and owned Westland Ruby (ISH).

In doing so, Duffy beat top riders like Cameron Hanley who was named RDS leading rider. “It was a brilliant class to win along with the Paul Darragh Trophy. Before I went in, Dermot, who was a good friend of Paul’s, told me to go in there and win it for him so I was really delighted it worked out that way,’’ said Duffy.

TIHA date change

The Traditional Irish Horse Association’s Festival of Traditional Breeding, held in partnership with Limerick Show at Limerick Racecourse, moves to a new date on next Saturday, August 23rd. Performance classes for three, four and five-year-olds, TIHA Performance Derby, the Jim Bolger-sponsored Limerick Matron and foal championships, plus a stallion parade, are all set to take place. Call 086 3908664 or 087 2467826 for Festival details.