SUNDAY, in huge contrast to Saturday, brought blue skies and plenty sunshine for those attending the IPS Summer Championships at Mullingar Equestrian Centre.

There was great excitement on the show grounds as there were two golden tickets on offer for The Horse of The Year Show (HOYS) for ridden Connemara’s and The Price Family In-Hand, which were kindly supported by TopSpec.

It proved to be a very successful day for husband and wife team Grace Maxwell Murphy and William McMahon. Grace rode the Patrick Curran-owned and bred stallion Glencarrig Douvan (Glencarrig Knight x Wyncroft Dawn) to victory to book their ticket to Birmingham in October.

Olympian Joseph Murphy had the tough decision to pick the Champion for the Price In Hand final but after much deliberation he decided that it would be Irish Draught Stallion Edenagor Star (Dunsdale Diamond x Edenagor Rosie), bred by Jim McNulty, owned by Grace Maxwell Murphy and shown by husband William McMahon, which brought cheers from spectators when they were pulled forward as champions. The reserve slot was awarded to the Rosie Turner-owned So Haute Right Now who had made the long journey over from Lincolnshire to compete.

The Overall starter championship was awarded to Aoife Brennan and Golden Grove Sunrise for the second year in-a-row which was a lovely send off as it is Aoife’s last year in the starter stakes section. Overall Intermediate was awarded to Aoife O’Connor’s beautiful coloured Ashlea’s Grand Finale, ridden by Aoibhinn Ruanne. Aoife O’Connor had another overall winner with Ballyleecastle Prince taking the Overall M&M Championship ridden by Chloe Lacey.

The Overall Mini title went to Ruth Logan’s lovely M&M Lead Rein Champion Spring Water Sadler’s Wells ridden by Elliot Logan, reserve was Woodroyd Go Go Girl who had already picked up The Prestige Championship the day before.

The Carr & Day & Martin Overall Working Hunter Champion was Ella’s Melody with Hannah Mackey on board and the super attractive Frosthill Jackaroo partnered by Isla Coad who earlier in the day was crowned Open WH champion stood reserve overall champion.

Hannah Mackey, having already picked up the overall WH title, was yet again the judges pick but this time on board The General to take the Overall Connemara title. The George Mullins Transport Irish-Bred Championship had high quality entries and the John McBride-bred Brooklllan Lady Isabella was crowned Irish-Bred Supreme Champion.

Supreme challenge

The Grand finale of a very busy two days of showing culminated in the Amira Transport Supreme Championship.

With judges Jackie Beatham, Alex Spencer and Aimee Devane having to make the difficult decision to select the Supreme and Reserve Pony of the show. After each qualified pony had performed their show piece, judges awarded marks out of 10.

The scores were all checked and the Supreme Pony of the IPS Summer Championship was called forward and much to the spectators’ delight it was Ruth Logan’s Spring Water Sadler’s Wells, ridden by Elliot Logan and led by Anthea Steele, with Hannah Mackey and Ella’s Melody pulled forward as Reserve Supreme Pony.

The Show Committee expressed their gratitude to all judges, stewards, volunteers, paramedics, the course builder, commentators, Mullingar Equestrian and their staff, who collectively made the show a success with plans already in motion for next year.

The Hunter Pony Committee of the IPS are running their Hunter Pony Championship Show on September 17th at Barnadown and were delighted to announce the Derby Working Hunter is back.

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