Braving the weather at Killyleagh Show

Rain doesn't stop play, as competitors did their best to participate across classes

The weather was not on the side of this year’s Killyleagh Show. The rain just kept coming, but, while some competitors made the decision not to fulfill their entries, others braved the conditions and made their best effort to take part.

The schedule included a range of ridden and Working Hunter classes for horses and ponies, as well as show jumping classes. Please note that, due to the very wet weather, results sheets got soaked and some were irretrievable - sincere thanks go to the organisers, who compiled the following lists of results to the best of their ability.

After competing in their respective height classes, the Working Hunter Pony Championship was presented to Daisy Murphy on ‘Annie’, with Reserve going to Bea Browne on ‘Dartry Ranger’, while the Working Hunter Horse Championship went to Katie Lee Houston and ‘Muckno Magic’.

Jim Lindsay and Judge Brian Clinghan presenting the Carr Cup to Katie Lee Houston, who rode ‘Muckno Magic’ to win the Horse Working Hunter Championship, the Horse Intermediate Working Hunter Class and the Open Horse Working Hunter class at Killyleagh Show.

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Grainne McParland and ‘Lachian Or’ claimed the Ridden Horse Championship, with Julie Graham and ‘Drumlanes Belle of the Ball’ taking the Reserve title here, while the Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship and Reserve were presented to Allison MacCartney on Don’t Matter Now’ and Sinead McNally on ‘Aughnamallagh Lady’ respectively.

The Family Pony classes are always popular and it is great to see these competitors taking home ribbons. The Family Pony Championship was presented to Eva Morton on ‘Toffee’, with Reserve going to Chloe Beggs on ‘Oliver’, while the ‘Best Rider of the Day’ title went to Rory Culbert on ‘Charlestown Bailey’.

Fane Valley’s Jonathan Crawford and Amy Breeze presenting the Allam Challenge Cup to Eva Morton, who rode ‘Toffee’ to win the Family Pony Lead Rein class. Eva then went on to win the Family Pony Championship at Killyleagh Show.

Chloe Rooney and ‘Fairy Hill Markle’ won the Show Hunter Pony Championship, with Rebecca Cowan on ‘Dowhills Strolling Minstrel’ in Reserve.

Show jumping classes ran from cross-poles up to 1m. Courses proved testing in the wet conditions, but competitors put their best hoof forward.

Killyleagh Show President Jim Lindsay and Robert Morrison presenting Amanda Torrens with flowers as a huge thank you for allowing the show to use the fabulous show grounds for another year.

Organisers would like to say a big thank you to all of the judges, stewards and, of course, to Adrienne Stuart for building this year’s brilliant Working Hunter and Show Jumping courses.

A massive thank you and well done to all competitors and supporters, who braved the weather to attend the show this year and compete to such a high standard, despite the conditions.

Area 17 Mounted Games enjoying a mud slide with show chairman Graham Fury at Killyleagh Show.

RESULTS

Saturday, June 14

Killyleagh Show

Pony Working Hunter 45cm:

1) Daisy Murphy, Annie; 2) Jonan Robinson, Lucy’s Locket.

Pony Working Hunter 60cm:

1) Daisy Murphy, Annie; 2) Elissa Cowan, Janala Mr Tom.

Sean Toal presenting the Barr Cup to Daisy Murphy, who rode ‘Bonecastle Lass’ to win the Pony Working Hunter Championship at Killyleagh Show.

Pony Working Hunter 70cm:

1) Eve Lawther, TempleMartin Cadhla; 2) Rachel Price, Harry.

Pony Working Hunter, M&M Large Breeds 80cm:

1) Chloe Rooney, Fairy Hill Markle; 2) Bea Browne, Dartry Ranger.

Pony Working Hunter 90cm:

1) Bea Browne, Dartry Ranger.

Working Hunter Pony Champion:

Daisy Murphy, Annie; Reserve: Bea Browne, Dartry Ranger.

Working Hunter Horse Champion:

Katie Lee Houston, Muckno Magic.

Alison Bissenden and her daughter Sarah presenting the Priestly trophy, in memory of her late father Oliver to Katie Lee Houston, who rode ‘Muckno Magic’ to win the Horse Working Hunter Championship at Killyleagh Show.

Lightweight Hunter:

1) Julie Graham, Drumlanes Belle of the Ball; 2) Jacqueline Verhoeven, Oakley Dollie.

Middle/Heavyweight Hunter:

1) Grainne McParland, Lachian Or.

Small Hunter:

1) Emma Connelly, Mullaghdrin Cointreau Lady.

Cob:

1) Cathy Cowan, Major Magee.

Ridden Veteran Horse:

1) Nichola Howarth, NEH Flagmount Diamond Clover.

Class 19 Irish Draught:

1) Billie Wilson, Lisbracken Purple Prince.

Ridden Horse Champion:

Grainne McParland, Lachian Or; Reserve: Julie Graham, Drumlanes Belle of the Ball.

Novice Racehorse to Riding Horse:

1) Sinead McNally, Aughnamallagh Lady.

Open Racehorse to Riding Horse:

1) Allison MacCartney, Don’t Matter Now.

Racehorse to Riding Horse Unraced:

1) Sinead McNally, Aughnamallagh Lady.

Racehorse to Riding Horse Champion:

Allison MacCartney, Don’t Matter Now; Reserve: Sinead McNally, Aughnamallagh Lady.

Despite the rain at Killyleagh Show, the Hobby Horses were a huge hit, with lots of eager competitors bringing along their very own Hobby Horses. Pictured are: Mylar Lynn with ‘Autumn’; Erin Crawford with ‘Dream’; Priva Lynn with ‘Willow’; Alexandra Thomas with ‘Popcorn’ and Eva Allen with ‘Freya’,

Tack and Turnout:

1) Poppy Colhoun, Buttons.

Family Pony Lead Rein:

1) Eva Morton, Toffee; 2) Margot Hilton, Bodie.

Family Pony First Ridden:

1) Erin Tennis, Popcorn.

Erin Tennis winning the Glenhuntly Trojan Troy Memorial Trophy on her pony ‘Popcorn’ in the Family Pony First Ridden class at Killyleagh Show.

Family Ridden Pony:

1) Chloe Beggs, Oliver; 2) Eve Lawther, Templemartin Cadhla.

Coloured Pony:

1) Rory Culbert, Charlestown Bailey.

Ridden Veteran Pony:

1) Eva Morton, Toffee; 2) Chloe Beggs, Oliver.

Family Pony Champion:

Eva Morton, Toffee; Reserve: Chloe Beggs, Oliver.

Killyleagh Show’s Family Pony Champion Eva Morton with Greg Williamson and his team from this year’s charity Chest Heart & Stroke Association.

Best Rider of the Day:

Rory Culbert, Charlestown Bailey.

Open First Ridden:

1) Anna Millar, Linsgardswood Comet.

Mixed M&M In-Hand:

1) Tamar Williams, StoneyGlen Snap Crackle and Pop.

Maria and Bernie McGovern presenting the Serviced Centre Annacloy Shield to Tamar Williams, who rode ‘StoneyGlen Snap Crackle and Pop’ to win the Mixed Mountain and Moorland In-hand Show Pony class at Killyleagh Show.

12hh-13hh Show Hunter Pony:

1) Rebecca Cowan, Dowhills Strolling Minstrel.

14hh-15hh Show Hunter Pony:

1) Caroline Stronge, Glencormac Finn.

M&M Ridden Small Breeds:

1) Elissa Cowan, Janala Mr Tom; 2) Anna Millar, Linsgardswood Comet.

Austin McCullough from the Dufferin Arms in Killyleagh (right) presenting the Challenge Cup to Deborah Cowan on behalf of her daughter Elissa Cowan, who rode ‘Janala Mr Tom’ to win the Mountain and Moorland Ridden Small Breeds class at Killyleagh Show.

M&M Ridden Large Breeds:

1) Chloe Rooney, Fairy Hill Markle; 2) Patrick McCready, Dartry Ranger.

Show Hunter Pony Champion:

Chloe Rooney, Fairy Hill Markle; Reserve: Rebecca Cowan, Dowhills Strolling Minstrel.

Dawn McGown presenting the Lynas Cup to Mandy Boyle, whose ‘Fairy Hill Markle’ won the Show Hunter Pony Championship at Killyleagh Show, ridden by Chloe Rooney.

Show jumping - Cross-Poles:

1) Zach Thompson, Toffee

Show jumping - 45cm:

1) Alayah Watson, Billy; 2) Erin Tennis, Popcorn.

Show jumping - 60cm:

1) Alayah Watson, Billy; 2) Jamie Newsam, Donebridge Pedro.

Show jumping - 70cm:

1) Jamie Newsam, Donebridge Pedro.

Show jumping - 90cm:

1) Ben Plunkett, Lizzie Balou.

Show jumping - 1m:

1) Ben Plunkett, Lizzie Balou.

Killyleagh Show 2025 Sponsors Board: Thanks go to all of the sponsors for their generous donations, the show wouldn’t be possible without your support and organisers greatly appreciate it.