THE Laois branch of the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association hosted their one-day event recently at Stradbally Hall where there was a strong line-up of 19 Irish Draughts entered in the first class of the day. The morning mist burnt off to glorious sunshine, which was very welcome after the previous week’s weather, indeed the going was near to perfect.

Dermot Molloy’s Heigh Ho Hero (by Heigh Ho Dubh, dam Moonlight Pearl), a beautiful five-year-old gelding, bred by Mary Jane Kearney, led the field after the dressage test. Close behind him was the four-year-old mare Ballyglass Morning Spirit (Cloneyhea Spellbound out of Ballyglass Dolly), bred by Mary Cogan, and ridden by Marie Helene Finegan. Both slipped down in the rankings after the show jumping but Ballyglass Morning Spirit still took home the prize for the highest placed four-year-old, a trophy turned from the wood of a beech tree from the Stradbally estate.

Keeping clear in the two jumping phases was what decided the placings among the first three. Drynam’s Laura Snow with her foot-perfect stallion Drynam Hero (by Gortfree Hero out of Cushnahans Mist), bred by Laura in partnership with centenarian Rob Hare, took the red ribbon and the David Cosby Perpetual Cup. Niamh Nolan’s Toberpatrick Tom Boy, a nine-year-old gelding by Ballybrack Diamond (dam Kilmuckridge Marengo), bred by Jane Kinsella, placed second here.

In third place was Helen Alexander and her 12-year-old mare Grangefort Heather. Out of the dam Mine French, bred by Richard Phelan, this mare is by Rosheen Yeats. Rosheen Yeats stood for many years with Ken Bryan, a stalwart member of the Laois Branch who was on fence judging duties on the day and got a great view of the mare taking on the water at number four on the cross-country in style.

High standard

Such was the standard as remarked upon by dressage judge Jean Halpenny, Dermot Molloy, a great supporter of this one-day event, had two runners this year, both by Heigh Ho Dubh. Leading after the dressage on Heigh Ho Hero, bred by Mary Jane Kearney, (dam Moonlight Pearl) on 27.25 with one pole down in the show jumping put the combination into fourth place. Molloy’s second entry, a four-year-old gelding Cummer Dubh out of Cummermore Lady, bred by Larry Carey, would have been in the placing except for a technical error. Another regular, Grace Kavanagh, took fifth on her Mountain Pearl horse, Mountain Emerald while sixth went to Dublin branch member Chris Carter with Cloonan Hector, bred by Tom Fitzgerald.

Connemara ponies were the rulers of the day in class two, sponsored by Liffey Mills Athy. Here Connemaras took the top three places. Gloria Nolan on Ardnehue Maxamillion was first followed by Suzanne Garrett with Ballinaguilkey Oyster and Celine Salter Templebready Rocket in third. Holly Conte secured fourth with her part bred Draught VHC Howitzer (by WRS Elvis). Highest placed Traditional Irish Horse was Gentle Bouncer (by Grange Bouncer ID out of a TIH mare), finishing sub 30. Trish O’Dwyer took sixth place on her Kings Master six-year-old bay gelding Arkendale Mastermind.

Elaine Hatton and Rising Crest in action at the Laois Branch of the IDHBA's one-day event at Stradbally \ Mel Doyle

Welcome return

Class three gave Niamh Nolan her second rosette of the day, this time a red one, riding her 14-year-old bay gelding Johnny. Elaine Hatton came second on her seven-year-old chesnut mare Rising Crest (by Castle Crest). It has been 30 years since Elaine did an ODE and she truly smashed it. In third place came Lynsey Rogers with Oreo Lad.

Stradbally Hall is a very special location no matter the weather but the committee was blessed by sparkling sunshine on the day. A sincere thanks to Thomas Cosby for the use of Stradbally, Thomas has always been a good friend to the IDHBA Laois Branch.

Judges were (Dressage) Jean Halpenny and Joanne Quirk with Aoife Darcy (Show jumping) while Paddy Carroll acted as scorer on the day. Tribute was also paid to all branch members and friends for their invaluable support in making the event a success.