County Wicklow rider Jane Bradbury and owner Daphne Tierney won the supreme hunter championship on Saturday morning in the Main Arena with the heavyweight gelding Bloomfield Excelsior at the Dublin Horse Show.
Purchased last October at Goresbridge Sales, the grey won his weight championship on Friday and took the four-year-old title en route to supreme honours.
Bloomfield Excelsior is by the Swedish Warmblood stallion Jack Of Diamonds out of the Cruising mare Tamerarra - the dam of two international show jumpers.
The reserve supreme was the middleweight champion, Huntsman, produced in north Co Dublin by Kieran Ryan for Straffan owner Dick McElligott. The bay gelding by the Oldenburg stallion OBOS Quality 004 out of a Black Walter mare, was partnered by PJ Casey, leading rider of the showing section. Huntsman was reserve four-year-old champion.
Ryan also produced The Prof, John Henry's four-year-old grey gelding by Tougher Lad, which was ridden by Claire Gilna to be reserve lightweight champion. The Rosemary Connors-partnered title winner was Patrick Cotter's I'm A Star, a four-year-old bay Harlequin du Carel gelding.
After a long day in the rain, judges Ian Stark and John Poole selected William Dillon's Knock Morris as their working hunter champion with last year's winner, Shameless, standing reserve under his owner Sarah Moore.
Knock Morris was ridden in the championship by Kirsteen Reid but, in the over 13st class, was partnered by Paul Beecher who was also on board the nine-year-old Coolcronan Wood stallion when he landed the performance Irish Draught championship on the first day of the show.
Results
Champion lightweight hunter – Patrick Cotter's Rehy I'm A Star (Rosemary Connors), 4yo bay gelding by Harlequin du Carel – Puissance Pass, bred by James Fogarty; reserve, John Henry's The Prof (Claire Gilna), 4yo grey gelding by Tougher Lad – Stickybeak, bred by Anna Darragh.
Champion middleweight hunter – Richard McElligott's Huntsman (P.J. Casey), 4yo bay gelding by OBOS Quality 004 – Annaghmore Lady Valier, bred by Aoife Healion; reserve, Hurst Show Team's Tattygare Good To Go (Rosemary Connors), 4yo bay mare by Porsch – Tattygare Golden Delight, bred by owners.
Champion heavyweight hunter – Daphne Tierney's Bloomfield Excelsior (Jane Bradbury), 4yo grey gelding by Jack Of Diamonds – Tamerarra, bred by Paul Flanagan; reserve, Patrick Loughlin's 6yo chestnut gelding – Gowlaun Nina, bred by Michael Hunt.
Champion hunter mare – Hurst Show Team’s Tattygare Good To Go (Rosemary Connors); reserve, W. McDowell’s Dancing Queen (Lesley Webb), 5yo chestnut mare by Crosstown Dancer – Fernisky Rose, bred by owner.
Champion four-year-old hunter – Daphne Tierney’s Bloomfield Excelsior (Jane Bradbury); reserve, Richard McElligott’s Huntsman (PJ Casey).
Supreme champion hunter – Daphne Tierney’s Bloomfield Excelsior (Jane Bradbury); reserve, Richard McElligott’s Huntsman (PJ Casey).
Champion broodmare – John and Julia Crosbie's Hankalaine, 6yo bay by Hankelo – Cleo Laine, bred by owners; reserve, Nick Murphy's Inistioge Best Betty, 5yo bay mare by Ghareeb – Sally's Pride, bred by T Smyth.
Champion show hunter pony – Justine Fay's Colorado (Jamie Smyth), 14yo chestnut gelding; reserve, Theresa Marnane's Wyndham Limelight (Olivia Marnane), 8yo bay gelding by Wyndham Crackerjack – Springdale Panache, bred by Peter Byrne.
Champion working hunter pony – Maire Springate's Mullybrannon Diamond (Sadhbh Springate), 6yo bay gelding by Dario – Duchess Of Diamond, bred by Janet Hinchion; reserve, Anne Gilroy's Hill Storm (Ciara Gilroy), 9yo grey gelding by Lochinvar – Holiday Moonlight, bred by Wendy Findlay.
Champion working hunter horse – William Dillon's Knock Morris (Paul Beecher), 9yo grey stallion by Coolcronan Wood – Westmeath Bell, bred by Bernard Cummins; reserve, Sarah Moore's Shameless (Owner), 8yo bay gelding by Porsch – Carnane Eurogirl, bred by Brendan McBennett.
