JENNIFER Kennedy, a regular sponsor and competitor at the Northern Ireland Festival, left the 2023 running of the three-day show in Cavan Equestrian Centre with two championships’ sashes and a host of ribbons which were all won by the one horse, Moneycross.

Kennedy first rode the six-year-old grey gelding in the home-produced cob class, which he won, after which Naomi Fisher partnered the son of WRS Elvis to victory in the amateur-ridden cob class. He and Kennedy rounded off Friday by winning the home-produced championship in the evening performance where Shannon Baird stood reserve with her ridden hunter, Glenburn’s Oliver Twist.

Title joy

In the amateur championship, Marie Helene Finegan claimed the title with her ridden hunter Ballyglass Morning Spirit. Just a four-year-old, this Irish Draught mare by Cloneyhea Spellbound was bred in Co Mayo by Mary Cogan out of Ballyglass Blue Dolly (by Windgap Blue). The reserve sash was presented to Sheena Holt riding the cob, Wemyss Bay.

Saturday was a rest day for Moneycross who, on Sunday, won a large lightweight cob class en route to winning the cob championship where Ryan Anderson stood reserve with the heavyweight, Codeword. As her horse was tired, Kennedy decided not to wait for the evening’s supreme ridden championship. Moneycross, who was bred in Co Kerry by John McCarthy, should be well over his tiredness in time for next week’s Balmoral Show.