Glen Knipe’s Laurel View Stud proved to be a very suitable new venue for the fourth Native Challenge organised by the Irish Draught Horse Society (NI) and held on Saturday 10 September.

Wendy Haig, who travelled from Aberdeenshire to judge the ridden classes, was impressed with the quality of the entries, which were well divided between four breed sections. Although the smallest section of the day, it was very encouraging to see 13 animals in the purebred Irish Draught section.

Exhibitors competed in any or all of the dressage, ridden hunter, showjumping and cross country sections to accumulate points for overall championships. There was plenty of space for the arenas, and the cross country course which ran over gently undulating ground was very inviting.

(l to r) David Thompson, Farmlay Eggs, congratulating Louise Hollywood, on Come T, Reserve Champion and Patricia Hanna, Champion purebred Irish Draught at the Native Challenge.

Winner of the Farmlay Eggs purebred Irish Draught section was a delighted Patricia Hanna on the 9 year old gelding Millhollow Cool Man. A consistent performer throughout the day he was second in the open horse showjumping, dressage and ridden class and third in cross country. Reserve champion, Nicholas Branniff’s Registered Irish Draught stallion Come T, ridden by Louise Hollywood, was winner of the ridden class and open show jumping and third in dressage. Both horses were bred by members of the IDHS (NI), Moira McKenna and Mamie Doherty respectively.

Nicola McKee (Champion) and Claire Henderson (Reserve Champion) receive their awards from Craig Kileef, Blue Grass and John Thornton, Alltech sponsors of the Purebred Connemara section at the Native Challenge.

The clear winner of the Alltech purebred Connemara section was Nicola McKee riding Jean Mitchell’s Dunmore Posie. This consistent combination started the day by winning the ridden class and went on to win in dressage and showjumping. Reserve champion honours went to Claire Henderson on Kilcurragh Boy who won cross country, were second in dressage and placed fourth in the ridden class.

Margaret Hardy, Parklands Veterinary Surgeons, with Oonagh MacOscar Reserve Champion in the Partbred Irish Draught section of the Native Challenge.

The Parklands Vets partbred Irish Draught section was won by Laura Cornett on Cool Blue Millie who finished just one point clear of Oonagh MacOscar on Bobby. The MacOscar family have been regular competitors in the Native Challenge since its inception four years ago.

The final result in the Alltech partbred Connemara section was even closer. Eventual winner was Helen Troughton’s Mustard Man ridden by Iona Perie with Iona Hamilton Stubber’s Glencormac Lad in reserve.

The next activity on the IDHS (NI) agenda is a pleasure ride which will be held at Gosford Forest Park on Saturday 1 October starting at 12 noon . The ride is open to everyone and more details are available from Margaret on 07815 876 047.

Results

Farmlay Eggs Purebred Irish Draught Championship
Champion: Patricia Hanna’s MILLHOLLOW COOL MAN gr g 9yr s Huntingfield Rebel
Reserve Champion: Nicholas Branniff’s COME T gr s 9yr s Carrabawn View. Rider Louise Hollywood

Alltech Purebred Connemara Championship
Champion: Jean Mitchell’s DUNMORE POSIE d m 12yr s Granard Storm Rider Nicola McKee
Reserve Champion: Simon Henderson’s KILCURRAGH BOY gr g 11 yr s Kilduffahoo Rider Claire Henderson

Parklands Vets Partbred Irish Draught Championship
Champion: Laura Cornett’s COOL BLUE MILLIE gr m 7yr
Reserve Champion: John MacOscar’s BOBBY gr g 16yr Rider Oonagh MacOscar

Alltech Partbred Connemara Championship
Champion: Helen Troughton’s MUSTARD MAN d g 15yr Rider Iona Perie
Reserve Champion: Iona Hamilton Stubber’s GLENCORMAC LAD

Ridden Classes

Purebred Connemara , 4 or 5 yr old
1. Helen Troughton’s HONEYHILL SONG gr m 4yr s Song of Freedom Rider Iona Pirie
2. Niamh and Fiona Cooper’s DUNKIN DONUTS s m 5 yr s Coral Lad
3. Helen Troughton’s TEDDY gr g 4yr s Robe Earl Rider Kate Kukko

Purebred Connemara , 6 yr old or over

1. Jean Mitchell’s DUNMORE POSIE d m 12yr s Granard Storm Rider Nicola McKee
2. L Moore’s TALL TALE PADDY gr g 6yr s Monaghanstown Fionn Rider Natasha Moore
3. Norma Spurr’s KINLARA DUNROWAN gr g 8yr s Ballymore Paprika

Partbred Connemara

1. Stephanie Courtney’s CASTLEBLANEY d g 9yr
2. M Moore ’s TOTO MATATA b m 9yr s Templebready Fear Bui Rider Sarah Moore
3. Carla Troughon’s ACTON BEN DINO s Boden Park Kilbrew

Purebred Irish Draught 4 or 5 yr old

1. Roy Shield’s ROCKRIMMON ROBUSTICUS ch s Rider Joanne Jarden
2. Helen Troughton’s SILKEN SWARZENEGGER ch g 4yr s Western Light Rider Kate Kukko

Purebred Irish Draught, 6 yr old or over

1. Nicholas Branniff’s COME T gr s 9yr s. Carrabawn View. Rider Louise Hollywood
2. Patricia Hanna’s MILLHOLLOW COOL MAN gr g 9yr s Huntingfield Rebel
3. Wendy McCaughan’s THISTLEDOWN CLASSIC b g 11yr s Classic Vision

Partbred Irish Draught

1. Pamela Caldwel’s GOOD GRACIOUS b m 7yr s Kildalton Son
2. William Hill’s OVER THE CLOVER b m 6yr s Euroclover Rider Jenny Hill
3. Denise Campbell’s LITTLE GREY gr m s Huntingfield Rebel Rider Clinton Campbell

Dressage

Purebred Irish Draught

1. Roy Shield’s ROCKRIMMON ROBUSTICUS ch s Rider Joanne Jarden
2. Patricia Hanna’s MILLHOLLOW COOL MAN gr g 9yr s Huntingfield Rebel
3. Nicholas Branniff’s COME T gr s 9yr s. Carrabawn View. Rider Louise Hollywood

Partbred Irish Draught

1. Laura Cornett’s COOL BLUE MILLIE gr m 7yr
2. John MacOscar’s BOBBY gr g 16yr Rider Oonagh MacOscar
3. Tracy Andrews’ MR SHARMA b g 12yr s Evros

Purebred Connemara

1. Jean Mitchell’s DUNMORE POSIE d m 12yr s Granard Storm Rider Nicola McKee
2. Simon Henderson’s KILCURRAGH BOY gr g 11 yr s Kilduffahoo Rider Claire Henderson
3. Polly Dilworth’s DUISIGH d m 16yr s Wild West rain Rider Louise Dilworth

Partbred Connemara

1. Helen Troughton’s MUSTARD MAN d g 15yr Rider Iona Perie
2. Iona Hamilton Stubber’s GLENCORMAC LAD
3. Carla Troughon’s ACTON BEN DINO s Boden Park Kilbrew

Show Jumping

Open Horse

1. Nicholas Branniff’s COME T gr s 9yr s. Carrabawn View. Rider Louise Hollywood (Best purebred Irish Draught)
2. Patricia Hanna’s MILLHOLLOW COOL MAN gr g 9yr s Huntingfield Rebel
3. Jan Shaw’s DIAMOND SURVIVOR ch m 13 yr s Blue Rajah

William Hill’s OVER THE CLOVER b m 6yr s Euroclover Rider Jenny Hill (Bestpart bred Irish Draught)

Novice Horse

1. Stephanie Courtney’s CASTLEBLANEY d g 9yr (Best partbred Connemara )
2. Sandra Dunbar’s SERENE SKY gr g 6yr s Luke Skywalker (Best purebred Irish Draught)
3. Heather Loughlin’s PRIDE OF THE GLEN ro g 7yr s Brookview Pride (Best partbred Irish Draught)

Open Pony

1. Judith Thompson’s LISNAMANN FULL FORCE b g 11yr s Spring Con Rider Harriet Conner (Best purebred Connemara)
2. John Goodwin’s GLENADUSH DOLLY d m 12yr s Cornelious Rider Sarah Goodwin (Best partbred Connemara )
3. Carla Troughon’s ACTON BEN DINO s Boden Park Kilbrew

Novice Pony

1. Jean Mitchell’s DUNMORE POSIE d m 12yr s Granard Storm Rider Nicola McKee (Best purebred Connemara )
2. Simon Henderson’s HOLIDAY SPRINGTIME gr g 12 yr s Spring Con Rider Kathryn Henderson
3. John Goodwin’s GLENADUSH BERT gr g 5yr s Derrigragh Robin Rider Kerry Ann Johnston

Cross Country

Purebred Irish Draught

1. Diane Hogg’s MAEVE RUA ch m 4yr s Mount Diamond Flag
2. William Hill’s HILL BILLY ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ch g 7yr s Crosstown Dancer
3. Patricia Hanna’s MILLHOLLOW COOL MAN gr g 9yr s Huntingfield Rebel

Partbred Irish Draught

1. Philip Bass’ ANTWERP MILLY b m 5yr s Antwerp City Rider Oliver Bass
2. Heather Loughlin’s PRIDE OF THE GLEN ro g 7yr s Brookview Pride
3. William Hill’s OVER THE CLOVER b m 6yr s Euroclover Rider Jenny Hill

Purebred Connemara

1. Simon Henderson’s KILCURRAGH BOY gr g 11 yr s Kilduffahoo Rider Claire Henderson
2. Lindsay Kilmacka’s HONEYHILL BLOSSOM d m 12yr s Spring Con Rider Harriet Conner
3. L Moore’s TALL TALES PADDY gr g 6yr s Monaghanstown Fionn Rider Natasha Moore

Partbred Connemara

1. Helen Troughton’s MUSTARD MAN d g 15yr Rider Iona Perie
2. M Moore ’s TOTO MATATA b m 9yr s Templebready Fear Bui Rider Sarah Moore
3. Carla Troughon’s ACTON BEN DINO s Boden Park Kilbrew