Armagh Show: high standards mean difficult decisions
Fabulous setting once again provides a top class show with a huge variety of classes
Armagh County Show was held on Saturday, June 8 in the wonderful setting of Gosford Forest Park at Markethill on a bright, dry day. There were classes to suit all shapes and sizes of equines, starting with donkeys, moving on to Miniatures, pony showing, Family Pony, Connemaras, Shetlands, Welsh, Mountain and Moorland, Irish Draughts, in-hand hunters (with multiple All-Ireland qualifiers), side saddle, Racehorse to Riding Horse, Riding Horses, Working Hunter ponies and horses.
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For such a long list of classes, there requires to be a comparably large number of judges. The difficult decisions of judging the winners this year fell to a number of accomplished judges, including Jane Bruce (Donkeys), Casilda Lyden Baird (Miniatures, Pony Showing and Youngstock), Andrew Gardiner (In-hand horses and Irish Draughts), Kevin McGuinness and Glen Farrell (Riding Horses), Robyn Catterall and Mrs D Colebrooke (Side saddle and Racehorse to Riding Horse), Mrs V Davis (Family Pony), Mr E Somerville (Native Ponies) and Jane Davidson and Willie Corrigan (Working Hunter horses). Sincere thanks are extended to them all, as well as all the stewards and helpers, who kept the show running smoothly.
There was some tough competition across the classes, with the coveted Ridden Hunter Championship going to ‘Pink Flamingo’, owned by Desmond Gibson and ridden by Jamie Smyth, while the very much on-form Shannaghmore Inferno, owned by Laura Caldwell and Cheryl Smith, ridden by Victoria Teuton, took Reserve.
Meanwhile, in the Working Hunter horse classes, the championship went to Jackie Conn and ‘Kinnego Glencorran Hendricks’; with reserve going to Aoife Gribben and ‘Wildfire’.
Kate Chissel’s ‘Hightopps Hunny Bunny’ claimed a Pony Showing title, with Natalie McCartan’s ‘Kelkardi China Doll’ in reserve, while the Connemara championship went to Mick McMenamin’s Melody Ace, with James Naan’s Galloon Ray of Hope in reserve.
An added attraction this year was a stand run by Hobby Horse NI, who set up a course of mini show jumps for children to jump on hobby horses! It certainly proved popular… and highly competitive!
It isn’t possible to mention everyone by name, but a big well done must be said to all who took part! The full show results and championships are listed below.
RESULTS
Saturday, June 8
Armagh County Show 2024
Equestrian Section
Class 1 Donkey - Best turnout and condition- open to all ages and categories:
1 & Res) Dec, Jill Castles; 2) Gail, Castlescreen Farm; 3) Rodney, Castlescreen Farm
Class 2 Donkey - ISA Qualifier - All Ireland Donkey Mare and Foal Championship:
No Entries.
Class 3 Donkey - Pet Donkey, any age or sex (excl. Jacks):
1 & Ch) Barney, Lily Cochrane; 2) Rodney, Castlescreen Farms; 3) Percy, Jill Castles.
Class 4 Donkey - Lead Rein Class - to be ridden by a child under 12 years of age:
No Entries.
Class 5 Donkey - Driving Class- any vehicle or attachment:
1) Barney, Lily Cochrane; 2) Muffin, Lily Cochrane.
Class 6 Miniature Horses - Foals and Yearlings (Colt, Filly or Gelding):
1 & Res) Silversmith UK Viviana, Yvonne Rogerson; 2) Daisy, Kyla Wickie.
Class 7 Miniature Horses - Two / Three Year Old (Colt, Filly or Gelding):
1 & Ch) Summerrose War Dance, Jamie McCann; 2) TLF Luca, Kate Cadman; 3) Ballykeppogue Distinctly Wicked, Kate Cadman.
Class 8 Miniature Horses - Four-year-old and over (Mare or Gelding):
1) Summerrose Simply Elegance, Noelle McCann; 2) Summerrose Rock Star, Jamie McCann; 3) ELM Bailey, Fiona Argue.
Class 9 Miniature Horses - Stallions (four years old and over):
No Entries.
Class 10 Miniature Horses - Best Junior Handler:
1) Summerrose Rock Star, Jamie McCann.
Class 11 Pony Showing and Youngstock - Pony Brood Mare:
No Entries.
Class 12 Pony Showing and Youngstock - 1/2/3 Year old Colt, Gelding or Filly:
No Entries.
Class 13 Pony Showing and Youngstock - 1/2/3 Year old Colt, Gelding or Filly:
No Entries.
Class 14 Pony Showing and Youngstock - Lead Rein Show Pony:
1 & Res) Kelkardi China Doll, Natalie McCartan; 2) Royalview Candyman, Pamela Lilburn.
Class 15 Pony Showing and Youngstock - First Ridden Show Pony:
1) Lowergreen Ruby Tuesdaym Danielle Conaghan.
Class 16 Pony Showing and Youngstock - Novice Show Pony:
No Entries.
Class 17 Pony Showing and Youngstock - Open Show Pony:
1 & Ch) Hightopps Hunny Bunny, Kate Chissel.
Class 18 Pony Showing and Youngstock - Lead Rein Show Hunter Pony:
1) Pineview Remeo, Rachel O’Rourke; 2) Greendown Mandolin, Natasha Cassidy; 3) Newoak Hot Gossip, Mairead O’Boyle.
Class 19 Pony Showing and Youngstock - First Ridden Show Hunter Pony:
1) Garnagree Golden Bravado, Sarah O’Rourke; 2) Lowergreen Ruby Tuesday, Danielle Conaghan.
Class 20 Pony Showing and Youngstock - Open Show Hunter Pony:
1 & Ch) Newoak Hot Gossip, Mairead O’Boyle; 2 & Res) Greendown Rene, Kate Chissel; 3) Annandale Prince Charming, Heather Lowry.
Class 21 Pony Showing and Youngstock - Novice Show Hunter Pony:
1) Cong Grey Star, Lorraine Hutchinson; 2) Tara’s Lady, Jill Phillips.
Class 22 Family Pony - Family Pony Lead Rein:
1) Norman, Violet Halliday; 2) Llwynneath Ivory Rose, Harry Kinghan; 3) Red, Georgia Cave.
Class 23 Family Pony - Family Pony Riding Class 1:
1) Walseker, Da Vinci, Alex Hemsley; 2) Burtonport Dazzle, Kacie Wickie; 3) Roxy, Maisie McCracken.
Class 24 Family Pony - Family Pony Riding Class 2:
1) Burtonport Dazzle, Ava Wickie; 2) Inspector Dexter, Brianna Collins; 3) Maggie, Anna Poots.
Class 25 Family Pony - Coloured Pony In-Hand:
1) Rolo (That’s my guy), Niall Devlin; 2) Buster Lad, Sophie Rose Mone; 3) Murphy, Daire McAllister.
Class 26 Family Pony - Coloured Pony Ridden:
1) Smok’en Benny, Daniel Kennedy; 2) Manny, Lois Murtagh; 3) Inspector, Brianna Collins.
Class 27 Family Pony - Novelty Fancy Dress:
1) Burtonport Dazzle, Ava and Kacie Wickie; 2) Freddie, Ada McClelland'; 3) Cuffstown Shada, Ellen McNeice.
Class 28 Family Pony - Veteran Pony:
1) Walseker, Da Vinci, Alex Hemsley; 2) Burtonport Dazzle, Ava Wickie; 3) Cuffstown Shada, Ellen McNeice.
Class 29 Family Pony - Young Handler Class:
1) Greendown Rene, Zach Cassidy; 2) Magheradrtin Secretaariat, Hannah Armstrong; 3) Cuffstown Shada, Ellen McNeice.
Class 30 Connemara Ponies - Registered Connemara Mare 3 years and upwards with or without a foal:
1 & Ch) Melody Ace, Mick McMenamin; 2) Rosscon Blue Jasmine, Liza Taylor; 3) Sternbergs Lovely Lorraine, Diane Weatherup.
Class 31 Connemara Ponies - Foal at foot Filly from previous class - all foals to be led:
1) Ballywildrick Sassy Lassie, Diane Weatherup.
Class 32 Connemara Ponies - Foal at foot Colt from previous class- all foals to be led:
1) Boonvalley Charlie, Mick McMenamin; 2) Carnageeragh Hugo, Liza Taylor.
Class 33 Connemara Ponies - Registered Mare or Gelding under 3 years shown in hand:
1 & Res) Galloon Ray of Hope, James Naan.
Class 34 Connemara Ponies - ISA Qualifier - The Connemara Three-Year-Old Filly All-Ireland Championship:
1) Lady Irene, Denver Logan.
Class 35 Connemara Ponies - Registered Mare or Gelding, four or five years old shown in hand:
1) Erne Valley Ula, Frankie Knipe; 2) Parishtown Lockdown, Heather Hillen; 3) Unknown, Maisie Grimes.
Class 36 Connemara Ponies - Registered Mare or Gelding, four or five years old:
1) Cong Grey Star, Lorraine Hutchinson; 2) Erne Valley Ula, Frankie Knipe; 3) Cuba Prince, Daniel Kennedy.
Class 37 Connemara Ponies - Registered Mare or Gelding six years or over:
1) Cloonhill Genius, Sandra Somerville; 2) Charleville Get Me Out, Lewis Orr; 3) Lor Ruadh’s Ceallach, Sarah McCracken.
Class 38 Shetland Ponies - Stallions or Geldings, four years old or over:
1) Magheradartin Secretariat, Catherine Lyttle; 2) Paristown Black Magic, Hazel O’Sullivan.
Class 39 Shetland Ponies - Colt, Gelding or Filly 1, 2 or 3 Years old:
1) Ronelle Clara-Bell, Sharon Cumberland; 2) Ronelle Phineas, Faith Magill.
Class 40 Shetland Ponies - Mares, four years old or over:
1) Ronelle Pollyanna, Sharon Cumberland; 2) Hools Sasha, Faith Magill.
Class 41 Shetland Ponies - Shetland Foal:
No Entries.
Class 42 Shetland Ponies - Young Handlers Class:
1) Hools Sasha, Faith Magill; 2) Magherdartin Secretariat, Catherine Lyttle; 3) Ronelle Pollyanna, Sharon Cumberland.
Shetland Pony Championship:
Champion: Magheradartin Secretariat, Catherine Lyttle; Reserve: Ronelle Clara-Bell, Sharon Cumberland.
Class 43 Welsh Ponies - Welsh Section A:
1) Rhydgwilliam Midnight Shadow, Sarah Beers.
Class 44 Welsh Ponies - Welsh Section B:
1 & Res) Abbeynook Princess Fenella, Jenny Reid; 2) Thistledown Rose of Texas, Charmaine Halliday.
Class 45 Welsh Ponies - Welsh Section C or D:
1 & Ch) Budore Benedict Francis, James Cleland.
Class 46 Welsh Ponies - Welsh 1/2/3 Years:
1) Loneash Enchantress, Sarah Beers.
Class 47 Welsh Ponies - Part-Bred Welsh: Any age or sex, to be shown in hand:
No Entries.
Class 48 Mountain & Moorland - Mixed Mountain & Moorland:
1 & Res) Abbeynook Princess Fenella, Jenny Reid; 2) Rhydgwilliam Midnight Shadow, Sarah Beers; 3) Parsontown Black Magic, Hazel O’Sullivan.
Class 49 Mountain & Moorland - Mixed Mountain & Moorland:
1 & Ch) Budore Master Chief, James Cleland.
Class 50 Mountain & Moorland - Mountain & Moorland Lead Rein:
1 & Ch) Idyllic Tyranny, Freddie Brown; 2) Twilight, Sophie Malone; =3) Gosford Teak, Ben Flynn; =3) Llwynneath Ivory Rose, Harry Kinghan.
Class 51 Mountain & Moorland - Mountain & Moorland First Ridden:
1 & Res) Waxwing Orient, Esther Lowry; 2) Maestir Venetia, EmmaJane Wells.
Class 52 Mountain & Moorland - Open Mountain & Moorland Ridden Small Breeds:
1 & Res) Walseker Da Vinci, Tanya Hemsley; 2) Rhydyfelin Starburst, Lorraine Hutchinson.
Class 53 Mountain & Moorland - Mountain & Moorland Open Ridden for Large Breeds:
1 & Ch) Tullaree Fear Bui, Cathy Cooper; 2) Lor Ruadh’s Ceallach, Sara McCracken.
Class 54 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Young Horses - Yearling Colt, Gelding or Filly, likely to make a hunter:
1) My Valleys Diamond, William Smyth; 2) Reves d’Alice, Jessice Teggart; 3) Kilnamona Caoimhe II, Lesley Fowler.
Class 55 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Young Horses - ISA Qualifier - The Yearling Filly All-Ireland Championship:
1 & Res) My Valleys Diamond, William Smyth; 2) Reves d’Alice, Jessica Teggart.
Class 56 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Young Horses - ISA Qualifier - The Yearling Colt/Gelding All-Ireland Championship:
No Entries.
Class 57 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Young Horses - Two-Year-Old Colt, Gelding or Filly, likely to make a hunter:
No Entries.
Class 58 In Hand Non-Throughbred Young Horses - ISA Qualifier The Red Mills Two-Year-Old Final at Tinahealy Show:
No Entries.
Class 59 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Young Horses - Three-Year-Old Colt, Gelding or Filly, likely to make a hunter:
1) Tullabeg Hello, Paula Howard; 2) Unnamed, Demond Gibson; 3) Unnamed, Michael Rice.
Class 60 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Young Horses - ISA Qualifier - The Three-Year-Old Horse All-Ireland Championship Galway Crystal:
1 & Ch) Tullabeg Hello, Paula Howard; 2) Unnamed, Desmond Gibson.
Class 61 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Young Horses - Coloured Sport Horse:
1) Rolo, Sharon Matthews.
Class 62 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Young Horses - Traditional Irish Cob under three years Mare or Gelding not exceeding 155cm:
No Entries.
Class 63 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Young Horses - Traditional Irish Cob four years or over Mare or Gelding not exceeding 155cm:
No Entries.
Class 64 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Young Horses - ISA Qualifier The Three-Year-Old Filly All-Ireland Championship Final at Dungarvan Show:
No Entries.
In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Young Horses - Young Horse Championship
Class 65 Irish Draught Horses - Registered Irish Draught Brood mare or appendix mare, in Foal or with Foal at foot:
No Entries.
Class 66 Irish Draught Horses - Pure-Bred Irish Draught Foal:
No Entries.
Class 67 Irish Draught Horses - ISA Qualifier Leitrim Draught Breeders Championship:
No Entries.
Class 68 Irish Draught Horses - Yearling, Colt, Gelding or Filly out of RID Mare by RID Stallion:
No Entries.
Class 69 Irish Draught Horses - ISA Qualifier - The Irish Draught Yearling Filly Championship:
No Entries.
Class 70 Irish Draught Horses - Two-Year-Old Colt, Gelding or Filly out of RID Mare by RID Stallion:
No Entries.
Class 71 Irish Draught Horses - Three-Year-Old Colt, Gelding or Filly out of RID Mare by RID Stallion:
No Entries.
Class 72 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Mares and Foals - Broodmare and Foal:
No Entries.
Class 73 ISA Qualifier - The All-Ireland Broodmare and Foal Team Championship:
No Entries.
Class 74 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Mares and Foals - Brood Mare, or Stinted Mare, likely to produce a hunter (RID mares excluded):
1 & Ch) Killylouhgan Legacy, Alison Rountree.
Class 75 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Mares and Foals - Foals (other than RID foals):
No Entries.
Class 76 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Mares and Foals - ISA Qualifier - The Colt Foal All-Ireland Championship:
No Entries.
Class 77 In Hand Non-Thoroughbred Mares and Foals - ISA Qualifier - The Filly Foal All-Ireland Championship:
No Entries.
Class 80 Side Saddle - Ladies’ Side-Saddle:
1) Kiltealy Grey, Gabriel Bell; 2) Cairnview Redwood Guy, Andrew Stephen Pearson; 3) My Diamond Solitaire, Debbie Harrod.
Class 81 Side Saddle - Intermediate Side-Saddle:
1) Highview Tall Order, R&J Anderson-Smyth; 2) Castle Dartagnan, Catherine Gorton; 3) Tullynavin Bobby, M Kirkpatrick.
Class 82 Side Saddle - Best Horse or Pony Ridden Side Saddle:
1 & Res) Mylestown Lady, Edie McClelland.
Class 83 Side Saddle - Equitation Championship Open Qualifying Class:
1 & Ch) Castle Dartagnan, Catherine Gorton; 2) Swatch This Diago, Shirley Anderson.
Class 84 Racehorse to Riding Horse - Novice Retraining Class (within confines of the show ring):
1) I’m Casual, Caitlin Crawford; 2) No Way Jack, Emma Mangel.
Class 85 Racehorse to Riding Horse - Open Ridden Racehorse to Riding Horse:
1 & Ch) Pots of Luck, Roisin Conway; 2 & Res) Smokey Bay, Ruth Cody; 3) Glennanar, John Maguire.
Racehorse to Riding Horse - Champions and Reserve
Class 86 Riding Horses - Ridden Irish Draught:
1) Shannaghmore Inferno, Victoria Teuton; 2) Dowdstown PJ, Sarah Russell; 3) Finian’s Star, Marina Stewart.
Class 87 Riding Horses - Ladies’ Hunter: Mare or gelding:
1) Carlingfords Chance, Cairlinn Carroll.
Class 88 Riding Horses - Open Riding for Style and General Appearance. Mare or Gelding:
1) Temple Bui, Victoria White; 2) Millenium Indi, Victoria Laverty; 3) Whitethorn Lane, Caroline Chambers.
Class 89 Riding Horses - Newcomers Ridden Hunter:
1) Drumlane Belle of the Ball, Julie Graham; 2) Rio’s Return, Stephen O’Hare; 3) Kylestone Diamond Lass, Grace Harney.
Class 90 Riding Horses - Coloured Horse:
1) Drummer, Mark Mayne; 2) Bolero’s Madison Avenue, Margaret Kidd; 3) Rosog Jodie; Maurice Campbell.
Class 91 Riding Horses - Small Hunter mare or Gelding, over 144cm and not exceeding 158cm to be ridden:
1) Lisroan Top Notch, Nicholas Laverty; 2) Two’s Company, Miriam Barnes; 3) Ardlea Diamond Lad, Louise Williamson.
Class 92 Riding Horses - Mare or Gelding to be shown under saddle to carry up to 13st:
1 & Ch) Pink Flamingo, Desmond Gibson; 2) Miss Mourne, Caoimhe O’Hare; 3) Doyle’s Romeo, Shane Doyle.
Class 93 Riding Horses - Mare or Gelding to be shown under saddle to carry over 13st:
1) Highview Earth Mover, R&J Anderson-Smyth; 2) Cloonan Hector; Chris Carter & Damian McCormack; 3) Ballingowan Euphoria, Amy Roberts.
Class 94 Riding Horses - Cob, Gelding or mare not exceeding 158cm to be shown under saddle:
1) Highview Watermark, R&J Anderson-Smyth; 2) Darrowby Bacchus, Declan O’Neill; 3) Yeats’ Jukebox Jive, Emer Lawlor.
Class 95 Riding Horses - Veteran Class:
1) Temple Bui, Victoria White; 2) Carlingfords Chance, Cairlinn Carroll; 3) Slatemills Soxy Lady, Charmaine Halliday.
Class 96 Riding Horse - ISA Qualifier The Ardrahan All-Ireland Ridden Hunter Championship:
1 & Res) Shannaghmore Inferno, Victoria Teuton; 2) Cloonan Hector, Chris Carter & Damian McCormack; 3) Pennywellfarm Israel, Rev John Purcell.
Class 97 Working Hunter Ponies - Cross-Poles Lead Rein:
1) Magical Merlin, Lisa Spratt; 2) Josmy, Holly Brown; 3) Twinkle, Noeleen Quinn.
Class 98 Working Hunter Ponies - Beginner Cradle Stakes:
1) Thistledown Buffalo Bill, Kelly Crawford; 2) Magical Merlin, Lisa Spratt; 3) Millie, Noeleen Quinn.
Class 99 Working Hunter Ponies - Open Cradle:
1) Prince Caspian, Sarah O’Rourke; 2) Treworgan Diamond Flame, Declan O’Neill; 3) Ballyderg Zara, Holly McCarroll.
Class 100 Working Hunter Ponies - Novice Starter Stakes:
1 & Ch) Blackertor Burlington Bertie, Emma Jane Wells; 2) Benson, Diane Kelly; 3) Applejack, Claire Green.
Class 101 Working Hunter Ponies - Open Starter Stakes:
1) Molly Mae, Nat Wilton; 2) Tara’s Lady, Jill Phillips; 3) Angel, Sinead McDonnell.
Class 102 Working Hunter Ponies - Open Working Hunter Pony Large M&M Breeds:
1 & Res) Charleville Get Me Out, Lewis Orr; 2) Fronzie T, Jackie McGrady; 3) Parishtown Lockdown, Heather Hillen.
Class 103 Working Hunter Horses - Pre Novice Working Hunter:
1) Brother Hubbard, Kathryn Boyd; 2) Cme Glitter and Gold, Clare Murtagh; 3) Whitethorn Lane, Caroline Chambers.
Class 104 Working Hunter Horses - Novice Horse Working Hunter:
1) Kinnego Glen Corran Hendricks, Jackie Conn; 2) Out of the Blue, Berni Muirhead; 3) Tullaher Milo, Lesley Coey.
Class 105 Working Hunter Horses - Irish Draught Working Hunter:
1) Two’s Company, Sam Hamilton; 2) Rockdale Star Bouncer, Peter McClelland; 3) Finian’s Star, Marina Stewart.
Class 106 Working Hunter Horses - Open Horse Working Hunter:
1) Wildfire, Aoife Gribben; 2) Emily May, Nat Wilton; 3) Peggy Sue, Lorraine Kennedy.
Working Hunter Horse Championship:
Champion) Kinnego Glen Corran Hendricks, Jackie Conn; Reserve) Wildfire, Aoife Gribben.