A DAY of quality showing kicked off at the recent Showing Show of the Year at Mullingar Equestrian Centre. Entries flocked in from every corner of the country bringing quality and quantity to what rolled out to be a top-class show in all divisions of showing classes.

The Horse Sport Ireland breeding classes drew the cream of the crop to exhibit quality entries for a very generous €8,000 prize fund. Judges Cyril O’Hara MFH and Bernie Stack had a tough job in the led ring choosing a very worthy winner of the Horse Sport Ireland Broodmare Championship which went to Paul Cleary’s Lady Fassagh (by Porche ex Crosstown Annie (Crosstown Dancer)), winner of the Middle/Heavyweight division, bred by Crosstown Stud. Reserve Champion honours went to Des and Margret Jeffares’ mare Ballykelly Notalot, (by Lancelot ex Clooneen Cavalier Countessa), bred by James Wallace in Co Clare.

Under the same judges, the Young Horses were out in force and after much deliberation, Tattygar Mini Me clinched the title of Young Horse Champion, after winning the two-year-old filly division. Tattygar Mini Me is owned by her breeder Shirley Hurst. Reserve Champion of the class went to Regina Daly and Finbarr McCarthy’s two-year-old gelding Strike a Pose, by Tyson out of an Ard VDL Douglas mare.

Ridden horse classes

In the ridden horse ring, judges Lesley Jones and Richard Wilson were kept on their toes with well-filled classes throughout the day. Amongst the winners came Grace Maxwell Murphy’s and William McMahon’s Da Vinci after winning the Middle/Heavyweight Hunter class to claim Ridden Champion and take home the Eddie Purcell Memorial Cup. Nicola Perrin’s Ballarin Baroness took Reserve Champion after winning the Small Hunter Division and claimed the coveted title of Horse Sport Ireland Ridden Champion Mare.

Working hunters

The Working Hunter ring was a hive of activity all day, judged by Victoria Tuton and Conor O’Hare. A very strong championship took place late in the evening where the Hunter Champion Da Vinci (William McMahon) claimed victory yet again to become Working Hunter Champion. The Reserve Champion Working Hunter title went to Tullaree Fear Bui (Ellie Rogan). From the four-year-old section, Queen of the South was a very popular Horse Sport Ireland Working Hunter Mare Champion, owned and ridden by Evan Henry and claimed champion Traditional Irish Horse (by Cruising Ambassador ex Lisdowney Rose).

Roseleen Barry judged Banks Timber to stand the In-Hand Pony Champion, owned and exhibited by Joe Burke, with Liam Lynskey claiming the Lisbrogan Sporthorses-ridden championship, piloted by Hannah Gordan.

Chief organiser Vincent Holian said: “We would like to thank Horse Sport Ireland breeding division, the team at TIHA and all our generous sponsors who made the show a huge success this year and we are already looking forward to a bigger and better for 2023.”

In-Hand Pony Champion Banks Timber, exhibited by Joe Burke, at Mullingar Showing Show of the Year \ Jane Emilly Potter Jumpinaction.net