Abbott claims Danescroft Event Horse championship

Young Event Horse Development Day attracts promising young horses and dedicated riders

Danescroft Equestrian, Lisburn held their inaugural Young Event Horse Development Day on Saturday, June 7. It was a great opportunity to see promising young horses and dedicated riders in action.

Classes included novice and open, as well as age classes for four-year-olds, five-year-olds and six/ seven-year-olds, followed by the presentation of an overall championship. The results lists read like a who’s who of local eventing talent, who came to show their support for the venue and the competition, while going head-to-head in pursuit of the generous prizes on offer!

Clare Abbott and ‘MT Kenobis Touch’ won the Overall Event Horse Championship and was presented with the Glasdrumman Stud Cup by Aaron Ross and daughter Katie at Danescroft’s Young Event Horse Development Day. PICTURES: courtesy of Ellie Johnston

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Jonathan Steele rode ‘Clonagoose Romeo’ (bred by James Kavanagh) for Sandra Hamilton and Janet Hall to win the Rider Airbag-sponsored four-year-old class, ahead of Colin Halliday on ‘CC Columbuscornet’, owner and bred by Eileen Duggan and Brendan Hearty.

Jonathan Steele and ‘Clonagoose Romeo’, owned by Sandra Hamilton (pictured right) and Janet Hall and bred by James Kavanagh, won the Rider Airbag-sponsored four-year-old class at Danescroft’s Young Event Horse Development Day and received their prize from sponsor, William McAleese.

Ben Rainey took the red ribbon in the five-year-old class, sponsored by The Meat Merchant, on board Ella Boyle’s ‘Larav Guinness Light’, bred by Yana Verling, with Steele slotting into the runner-up position this time, riding ‘Quality Julio’, owned by ThreeWays and bred by David Harrison.

In the Glebe Equine-sponsored six/ seven-year-old class, Clare Abbott claimed the top spot with ‘MT Kenobis Touch’, owned by Jacqueline Wright and Gareth Carlisle, who also bred the horse. Steven Smith had three in the top six in this class, including ‘Annaghmore Cornoko’, owned by Campbell McLean and bred by Aoife Healion.

After much deliberation, Clare Abbott and ‘MT Kenobis Touch’ were named as Overall Event Horse Champions and winners of the Glasdrumman Stud Cup.

The age group classes were funded by the Breeding Grant Initiative under Breeding Grant Services, with thanks to The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and delivered by Horse Sport Ireland.

Meanwhile, the Horse First-sponsored novice win went to June Burgess and her home-bred ‘Maxwelton’, followed by Lesley Coey and ‘Tullaher Milo’ in second.

June Burgess and ‘Maxwelton’ won the Novice class, sponsored by Horse First, at Danescroft’s Young Event Horse Development Day.

The open class, sponsored by KR Equine, was won by the accomplished duo of Anita Doherty and ‘Goldiva’, with Christine Finlay riding ‘Park Lodge Over and Under’ into second place.

Running a competition like this requires a great deal of help from many people. Course designers and event organisers, Leah Knight and Corey Mawhinney, would like to thank everyone for their support and positive feedback.

Sincere thanks are extended to everyone who joined them on the day; to judges Vanda Stewart, John Tilley, Margaret Creighton and Andrew Williams, whose time and expertise were greatly appreciated. Thanks also to Dressage Ireland Northern Region for the use of their dressage arena - this support was much appreciated.

Ben Rainey and ‘Larav Guinness Light’, owned by Ella Boyle and bred by Yana Verling, won The Meat Merchant-sponsored five-year-old class at Danescroft’s Young Event Horse Development Day.

Thank you to the sponsors, for backing this event and helping to make it possible; to the volunteers, whose help on the day was essential; to Sarah Pannasch for her work on the event visuals and marketing; and to Laura Fekkes for overseeing the event promotion and advertising.

A big thank you must also go to Vina Buller for taking the time to come on Friday afternoon to approve the course and to both Vina and Anita Doherty for helping build the dressage arena.

Michael Dobbs worked many late nights and early mornings to ensure that fences were safe but fabulous-looking! Leah, Corey and chief fence builder Michael were delighted to see the courses being enjoyed and hope the experience was both educational and confidence-building for horse and rider!

Thanks again to all involved, organisers look forward to seeing what the future holds for these young horses.

RESULTS

Saturday, June 7

Young Event Horse Development Day

Novice class, sponsored by Horse First:

1) June Burgess, Maxwelton; 2) Lesley Coey, Tullaher Milo; 3) Emma Jackson, Western Warrior; 4) Chelsea Lewis, Fanta; 5) Emma Jackson, Tourmakeady Champ; 6) Nikki Cullen, Gemstone Ruby.

Open class, sponsored by KR Equine:

1) Anita Doherty, Goldiva; 2) Christine Finlay, Park Lodge Over and Under; 3) Molly Evans, Son of Tully; 4) Emma Wallace, Wantsandneeds; 5) Sarah Sloan, Moneyquid Black.

Organisers Leah Knight and Corey Mawhinney are pictured congratulating Anita Doherty and ‘Goldiva’, who won the KR Equine-sponsored Open class at Danescroft’s Young Event Horse Development Day.

Four-Year-Old class, sponsored by Rider Airbag:

1) Jonathan Steele, Clonagoose Romeo (Owner: Sandra Hamilton & Janet Hall; Breeder: James Kavanagh);
2) Colin Halliday, CC Columbuscornet (Owner & Breeder: Eileen Duggan & Brendan Hearty);
3) Colin Halliday, Jimble Eva (Owner & Breeder: Norman & Joanne Walsh);
4) Johnny Mulligan, Laganside (Owner: Sandra Hamilton; Breeder: Janet Hall);
5) Emma Jackson, Glasdrumman For Sure (Owner: Corey Mawhinney; Breeder: Emma Jackson);
6) Johnny Mulligan, Templecombe Lucca (Owner: Robert & Johnny Mulligan; Breeder: Trevor Patterson).

Five-Year-Old class, sponsored by The Meat Merchant:

1) Ben Rainey, Larav Guinness Light (Owner: Ella Boyle; Breeder: Yana Verling);
2) Jonathan Steele, Quality Julio (Owner: ThreeWays; Breeder: David Harrison);
3) Ben Rainey, Mon Beg Dunard Blue (Owner: Ella Boyle; Breeder: Maeve Cuffe);
4) Jonathan Steele, Punchlion (Owner: Pauline Faloon; Breeder: Grace Kelly);
5) Colin Halliday, Apple Jacques (Owner: Orlagh Halliday & Grace O’Shaughnessy; Breeder: Brendan Gardner);
6) Clare Abbott, MT Diacontina (Owner: Gareth Carlisle & Clare Abbott; Breeder: Gareth Carlisle).

Ella Boyle of Glebe Equine congratulates Clare Abbott and ‘MT Kenobis Touch’, owned by Jacqueline Wright and Gareth Carlisle, who also bred the horse, on winning the Glebe Equine-sponsored six/ seven-year-old class at Danescroft’s Young Event Horse Development Day.

Six/ Seven-Year-Old class, sponsored by Glebe Equine:

1) Clare Abbott, MT Kenobis Touch (Owner: Jacqueline Wright & Gareth Carlisle; Breeder: Gareth Carlisle);
2) Steven Smith, Annaghmore Cornoko (Owner: Campbell McLean; Breeder: Aoife Healion);
3) Steven Smith, Lachain Lance (Owner: Steven Smith; Breeder: Tony Lenihan);
4) Lucca Stubington, Ballyneety Cavalier Imp (Owner: Anna Ross; Breeder: Michael Byrne);
5) Steven Smith, Greenhall Gold Dust (Owner: Gail McNab; Breeder: Derry Rothwell);
6) Ellen Douglas, Rock Festival (Owner: Hugh Douglas; Breeder: Carmel Foley).

Overall Event Horse Champion - winner of the Glasdrumman Stud Cup:
Clare Abbott, MT Kenobis Touch.