JOANNE Quirke had just the one ride at last week’s Balmoral Show and made it count when partnering Helen Cooke’s traditionally-bred Irish Sport Horse gelding Kiltealy Grey to victory in the North Down Marquees ladies’ astride championship.

Winner of the six-year-old and upwards class, the 2019 Kiltealy Silver bay was bred in Co Wexford by J.J. Bowe out of Kiltealy Kay (by Kiltealy Spring). He is owned by Quirke’s Co Meath neighbour Helen Cooke who hopes to qualify him herself for the ladies’ side saddle class at Dublin and has two chances to do so over the weekend of June 14th (Armagh) and 15th (Athlone).