THE first of four qualifiers for the Knotts Bakery young event horse championships at next month’s Balmoral Show was held on Tuesday at The Meadows Equestrian Centre and it was good to see a few southern competitors make the journey north to Lurgan.

Among those rewarded for their relatively short trip up were John and Maria Melvin, owner/breeders of the four-year-old winner, the Crosstown Dancer gelding Glenkeeran Dance Inthedeep. The chesnut, who won on a total of 74.75%, was ridden by Clare Abbott who also campaigns this fellow’s nine-year-old full-brother, Glenkeeran River, for the Co Louth couple.