Air Ambulance Show draws crowd to Ardnacashel
Showing, Working Hunter and show jumping classes help raise funds for worthy cause
Saturday, May 25 was the Annual Air Ambulance Show at Ardnacashel Equestrian, Comber and what a day they had, with over 150 competitors!
The sun was shining, the horses were glowing and the riders were showing their class. The title sponsor, HoneyChop Horse Feeds, donated lots of prizes and goodie bags, which were presented to riders on the day.
Hello and welcome to Horse&Field. Our aim is to support local, grass roots equestrian enthusiasts and competitors and keep you all informed of what’s happening in the horsey world, as well as covering all things agricultural. If you haven’t already subscribed you can do so below:
The show raised a total of £1,950.55 for the charity between donations and the raffle that was organised by Corey Mawhinney. A massive thank you goes to everyone who donated and to the coaches and businesses that put up their services and goods for the raffle: Luke Campbell, Karen Dixon, Emma Jackson, Joanne Jarden, Black Horse Photography, EquiNow, Equimech, Irish Equine Rehabilitation and Fitness Centre, Rowan Equestrian, Danescroft Equestrian, Lisbane Farm, HoneyChop, KR Equine, Reeses Grooming Room, Glasdrumman Stud, Equine Performance Solutions and Ardnacashel Equestrian.
A huge effort went into preparing the venue for the show. David Wightman and Janice Reddy did all the preparation - fencing the rings, building courses, hanging banners and maintaining the ground in the build-up. Corey Mawhinney took on the role of organising entries, times and all other relevant jobs behind the scenes.
Another of Janice Reddy's roles was designing and building both the Working Hunter and Show Jumping courses, both of which proved to take some riding.
David Wightman was busy on Saturday, stewarding the Working Hunter ring and managing the other show rings on the field - it's all in a day's work!
Arena 1, the Working Hunter ring, ran like clockwork all day. The two judges were Mr Declan O'Neill, Co. Down and Miss Hannah Gordon, Co. Mayo. The first class, cross-poles, was won by Alia Fletcher and her pony, ‘Caerserennog Topaz’, closely followed in second by Holly Wylie and ‘Popcorn’. Classmates, Grace Scott on ‘Spruce’ in third, Olivia Ward on ‘Oscar’ in fourth and Jorja Dickson on ‘Skyfall’ in fifth, all put in fantastic performances, receiving lovely comments from the judges.
All the mini classes were well-supported and each combination was in top form, making the judge's job very difficult. The Mini Champion was Alia Fletcher and her ride ‘Caerserennog Topaz’, while Reserve Mini Champions were Holly Wylie and ‘Popcorn’.
The next set of classes were just as competitive, with Rebecca Cowan and her pony winning the 60cm Working Hunter Pony class and Teddi Milligan winning the 60cm Small Breeds. Lorna Coffey and ‘Glenwood Oak’ won the 70cm Performance Pony class, with Erin Wardle and her pony ‘First Delilah’ won the 70cm Working Hunter Pony section - Lorna went on to take Champion and Erin took Reserve Champion in a very respectful championship class.
The Novice M&M Large Breed class was won by Emma Jackson and ‘Champ’, a Connemara gelding owned by Miss Brooke Rice. ‘Dunman’, ridden by Alex Watt, secured second place in yet another well-supported and competitive class.
The Cobs were out in force and they were tasked to jump the 80cm Janice Reddy-built Working Hunter track. This section was won by Patrick McCready and ‘Draughtons Cobweb’.
Champions of the last section were Emma Jackson and Oonagh Magowan’s ‘Western Warrior’, with Cormac Murtagh and ‘Shanaghy Star’ taking Reserve Champion.
Arena 2 hosted the Show Horses. This section was judged by Miss Julie Donaghy Simpson and Mr Brian Murphy, Co. Down.
The Lightweight Hunter class was won by Ryan Anderson and ‘Doyles Romeo’, a bay gelding, owned by Mr Shane Doyle. In second place was Wayne Hamilton riding ‘Rio's Return’, followed by Elizabeth Cherry and ‘Why Larry’. The Small Hunter section was won by Jamie Smyth and Hilary Gibson’s ‘Highview Forth River’.
The Cob class was won by Kerry Dickson and her own ‘A Stolen Star’, followed by Ryan Anderson and ‘Tom’ in second. Rebecca Belshaw and her bay mare, ‘Loch Garman Girl’ won the Newcomers section.
Top place in the Coloured and Veteran class was Anna Craig and ‘Painted By Magic’, with Asli Yavuz and ‘Diego’ close behind. Overall Show Horse Champion was won by Ryan Anderson and ‘Doyles Romeo’, with Jamie Smyth and ‘Tom’ taking Reserve.
The In-Hand ring was judged by Mrs Gillian Gill, Co. Down. The first class, one to three-year-old hunters, saw two polished showing experts take first and second. In first place was David Kirkpatrick and ‘Hugo’, with David Lyons and his two-year-old ‘Nico’ in second.
The Welsh pony section was won by Erin McKee and ‘Beno Bubbalouie’. Hugo Cowell and ‘Stoneyfalls Casper’ won the Connemaras one to three-year-old class, with Julie Coffey and ‘Teo Pepe’ winning the Four-year-old and Over section.
The M&M Pony class was the biggest in the In-Hand ring - Glasdrumman Stud-owned stallion, ‘Ashfield Casanova’ won this class with handler, Abi Gardner.
The overall Champion was won by David Lyons and ‘Nico’, with Ella Dickson and ‘Skyfall’ taking Reserve Champion.
Last but not least was the Pony Showing ring, judged by Mrs Rebecca Reid. Sophie Donnell and her Connemara ‘Lusmagh Echo’ impressed the judge in the Connemara Ridden class to take first place (also later taking champion), followed by Chloe Rooney and her mount, ‘Elvis’, in second.
In the Large Breed section, Faye Gabbey and ‘Leyeswick The Wise Guy’ took pole position, with Elissa Cowan and her pony ‘Beltoy Panteal’ winning the Small Breed section. The Tiny Tots Lead Rein class was headed by Olivia Ward on ‘Oscar’, Katie Ross and ‘Cassie’ were second and, in a close third place, were Patrick Wardle on ‘Rhydwillim Arthur Pendragon’. Winning the Ridden Pony Championship were Rebecca Cowan and ‘Dowhills Strolling Minstrel’.
Holly Wylie and ‘Popcorn’ won the Lead Rein Pony class, with Grace Scott following in second. In the M&M Lead Rein class, Isla Christie won with her pony ‘Rhydwillim Arthur Pendragon’, while in second was Jorja Dickson on ‘Skyfall’.
All at Ardnacashel want to again thank every one of those who supported the show and donated money to the Air Ambulance.