Busy weekend as The Meadows hosts Balmoral qualifiers
Irish Draught and Star of the Future Performance qualifiers, as well as Connemara qualifiers see tough competition **New pic added**
A busy weekend commenced the 2025 competition season for the Meadows Equestrian Centre, following their successful running of the Eventing Ireland Flexi Eventing Series.
Starting the season was the prestigious Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) performance horse qualifiers for the Balmoral Show in May.
Irish Draught Performance Qualifiers
Commencing the day was the first running of the Performance Irish Draughts. In total, 50 Irish Draughts undertook the two phases of qualification. Starting under the watchful eye of Jayne Doherty in the flatwork phase, some very pleasing tests were observed, with Charlotte Harding and ‘Kontiki’ receiving Doherty’s highest marks of the day. In phase two, it was the turn of Mrs Vina Buller to assess the horses over a rustic course.
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Qualifying in pole position in the Four and Five-Year-Old class was Diarmuid Ryan with Dermott Molloy’s chestnut gelding ‘Two Mile Nigel’. The ‘King Vinny’-sired five-year-old impressed in all phases, scoring an impressive 129.5 marks. Second place on this occasion went to Sammy Weston with the Martin and Majella Fahey-bred ‘Tully’s Stellar Lady’ and Lisa Mitchell-Talbot with ‘My Woodfield Zoe Brooke’ in third.
The Six Years and Over once again was a hotly contested class, with over 20 combinations trying to bag the coveted blue qualifier rosette on the day. With a flatwork score of 46 out of 50 marks, Charlotte Harding led the field with the ‘Killinick Bouncer’-sired grey gelding ‘Kontiki’.
Star of the Future Performance Horse Qualifiers
The afternoon belonged to the Young Performance Horse Qualifier, the Balmoral ‘Star of the Future’. A change in judge saw Mr Eamonn Rice take to the judges’ role for the afternoon. A course of show jumps followed then by a selection of rustic and cross-country type fences saw a strong turnout once again this year.
A strong performance from Amanda Goldsbury from Cooley Farm saw her take the win with ‘Cooley Showman’, a chestnut gelding by ‘Vittorio’. Just two marks separated first and second placings, with the Jodie Creighton-owned ‘Creevyquinn Ace’ piloted to second place by Jackson Laing.
Neil Wrynn was a deserving winner of the Six and Seven-Year-Old Star of the Future qualifier, with the ‘OBOS Quality’ gelding ‘Ardeo on Q’. Goldsbury was once again in the ribbons, when she steered ‘KHH Romanov Park’ to second place.
Connemara Qualifier
Sunday saw the day belong to the Connemara riders and, with ponies arriving from all over Ireland, judge Valerie Davis had plenty to choose from through the Working Hunter and Ridden classes scheduled.
The morning session saw the Working Hunter qualifiers take to the Arena at the Embankment Road complex. Commencing the competition were the riders aged 10 to 15 years. ‘Tallyho Dun It’, the six-year-old bay mare by ‘Goblin King’ put in a foot-perfect display to take the win under the saddle of Lisa Hegarty, with Ella Robinson and ‘Rickamore Faith’ placing second and Zac Hanna taking third with ‘Highburren Cameron’.
Rounding up the Working Hunter qualifiers was the 16 years and over category. Lesley Jones struck gold with ‘Derrylackey Playboy’, the bay gelding by ‘Lightening Star’. Whereas Diarmuid Ryan, back for a second day, placed second with ‘Pem Boy’ and Megan Houston and ‘Western Ocala’ rounded out the trio in third place.
Following a quick lunch, it then was the turn of the Ridden classes. First up was the Four and Five-Year-Old ponies, ridden by riders between 10 and 15 years. Winning the class on this occasion was Piper Lewis-Copeland with the ‘Banks Timber’-sired, ‘Seafield River Banks’; second place was awarded to Poppy McIlduff and ‘Cleendargen Boy’, third place awarded to Sophia Campbell with ‘Oxhill Andreas’.
The second ridden class was for Mares and Geldings Four and Five years old, ridden by riders 12 years and over. Picking up her second win of the day was Lesley Jones, this time with ‘Carnakily Monarch’.
‘Eastlands Jollybrae’ took second place under the saddle of Charlotte Smiley, whilst Jenny Lindsay and ‘Mai of Deerpark’ received third place from the judge.
The final class of the very busy weekend was for riders 10 years and over with ponies six years and over. ‘Fairyhill Markle’, a grey gelding by ‘Monaghanstown Boy’ took the final first place of the day with Chloe Rooney, with Emmalee Turley and ‘Belsa Beag’ in second place and Jamie Smyth in third with ‘Glencoaghan Rachael Girl’.
RESULTS
Saturday, March 1
Balmoral Irish Draught Performance Qualifiers
Four & Five-Year-Old Qualifier:
1) Diarmuid Ryan, Two Mile Nigel; 2) Sammy Weston, Tully's Stellar Lady; 3) Lisa Mitchell-Talbot, My Woodfield Zoe Brooke; 4) Gwen Scott, Rockdale Star Bouncer; 5) Emma Jackson, Ardlonan Bouncer; 6) Maria McNamara, Shanbally Hipflask.
Six Years and Over:
1) Charlotte Harding, Kontiki; 2) Jessica Murphy, Bawnbally Diamond; 3) Jenny Williams, Ballyrussell Misty; 4) Edwina O’Connor, Ashwood Reggie; 5) David O’Connor, Inisharoan Orlagh; 6) Ben Rainey, Dowdstown PJ.
Balmoral ‘Star of the Future’ Performance Qualifier
Five-Year-Old Qualifier:
1) Amanda Goldsbury, Cooley Showman; 2) Jackson Laing, Creevyquinn Ace; 3) Diarmuid Ryan, BT Just Special; 4) Ben Rainey, Monbeg Dunard Blue; 5) Orla Cassidy, Whitetree Baby; 6) Ben Rainey, Larav Guiness Light.
Six & Seven-Year-Old Qualifier:
1) Neil Wrynn, Ardeo on Q; 2) Amanda Goldsbury, Cooley Carissma; 3) Jonathan Steele, Cosmic Dancer; 4) Amanda Goldsbury, KHH Romanov Park; 5) Jackson Laing, GS Benedicti; 6) Ciara O’Connor, Ashwood Rio.
Unregistered Show Jumping
Cross-Poles (Double Clears):
Sienna Sands, Rosie; Beatrix McCann, Bubbles; Oscar McCann, Bubbles.
50cm (Double Clears):
Sienna Sands, Rosie; Rosie McElmeel, Eddie.
60cm (Double Clears):
Chloe Hall, Jumanji; William Lynskey, Blackberry; Elizabeth McCann.
70cm (Double Clears):
Katie Surgenor, Cornaughy Joey; Tommy Wakfer, Creganna Lorenzo; Heather Denholm, V; Lily Jones, Eabha; Katie Surgenor, DS Ebony Bou; Elizabeth McCann, Rui Nart; Harriett McCann, Felicity.
80cm (Double Clears):
Karen Pearson, Cora; Pauline McKeown, Korey; Melissa Tinney, Ballyheerin Jorado Belle; Marina Stewart, Murphy; Amy Robinson, Sherry; Olivia Stewart, RF Oblivion; Abbie Chambers, Jimmy; Jonathan West, Sovereign; Arlene Greenaway, Warrior Bob; Chloe Turkington, Makers; Tommy Wakfer, Creganna Lorenzo.
90cm (Double Clears):
Samantha Talbot, Caher Enda Quality; Melissa Tinney, Ballyheerin Cornet; Tamer Smith, Mr C; Abbie Chambers, Kungfu Spartacus; Caoimhe Gallagher, Sid; Marina Stewart, Troy; Annie Morrow, Liberty's Benjamin; Kirsty Clinghan, Rosa; Olivia Stewart, RF Olivia.
1m (Double Clears):
Dean Cotton, Fizz; Penny Logan, JBOT; Samantha Talbot, Caher Enda Quality; Denis Currie, Troy; Freya Kennedy, Saul; Freya Kennedy, Dixie; Emma Ewing, Ella; Charlotte Becks, Hacker; Patrick McWilliams, Beau.
1.10m (Double Clears):
Lucy Toombs, Ice; Gary Close, Buffie; Lucy Hanna, Bas; Lois Thompson, Prada; Kirsty Clingan, Rosa; Luke Devlin, Oliver; Luke Devlin, Lisbann Algeen; Pippa Moore, Miranda; Eimer Magee, Millie.
1.20m (Double Clears):
Lucy Hanna, Bas; Lois Thompson, Watson; Lucy Gibson, Dara.
Sunday, March 2
Balmoral Connemara Working Hunter Qualifier
Working Hunter- Mare/ Gelding- FourYears and over- rider 10-15 years:
1) Lisa Hegarty , Tallyho Dun It; 2) Ella Robinson, Rickamore Faith; 3) Zac Hanna, Highburren Cameron; 4) Brooke Kenny, Cupid's Magic Shadow; 5) Lauren Reynolds, Tubbervale Misty Boy; 6) Bea Browne, Darter Ranger.
Working Hunter- Four Years and Over - rider 16 years and over:
1) Lesley Jones, Derrylackey Playboy; 2) Diarmuid Ryan, Pem Boy; 3) Megan Houston, Western Ocala; 4) Sarah McPolin, Magic Rhythm; 5) Sophie Ennis, Achadh an Luir Rainbow Mirah; 6) Lewis Orr, Charleville Get Me Out.
Balmoral Ridden Connemara Qualifier
Mare/Gelding Four Years and Over- ridden by rider 10-15 Years on 1/1/25:
1) Piper Lewis-Copeland, Seafield River Banks; 2) Poppy McIlduff, Cleendargan Boy; 3) Sophia Campbell, Oxhill Andreas; 4) Lucy Knox, Kinnard Kitty; 5) Bea Browne, Shannon's Boy; 6) Harry Campbell, Classiebawn Headlass.
Mare/Gelding Four and Five Years Old, to be ridden by riders 12 and over on 1/1/25:
1) Lesley Jones, Carnakilly Monarch; 2) Charlotte Smiley, Eastlands Jollybrae; 3) Jenny Lindsay, Mai of Deerpark; 4) Kelsie Dean, Doyle's Pixie Shadow; 5) Hannah Gordon, Rock of Belass; 6) Ellie Rogan, Rockwell Chico.
Mare/ Gelding Six Years and Over - to be ridden by rider 10 years and over on 1/1/25:
1) Chloe Rooney, Fairyhill Markle; 2) Emmalee Turley, Belsa Beag; 3) Jamie Smyth, Glencoaghan Rachel Girl; 4) Caitlin McGuckin, Fanad Beauty; 5) Jenny Lindsay, L'Tara's Ruby; 6) Jackson Laing, Doon Da Vinci.