Fantastic Autumn Festival at Danescroft

Two days of showing and Working Hunter for horses and ponies at Lisburn venue

Danescroft Equestrian Centre welcomed showing and Working Hunter enthusiasts to the Lisburn venue over the course of last weekend, with in-hand and ridden showing classes being held on Saturday, catering for horses in the morning, followed by ponies, while Working Hunters took centre-stage on Sunday, again with horses in the morning and ponies in the afternoon.

Some lovely horses came forward in the showing classes, making for some difficult decisions for the judges. Victoria Teuton rode ‘Shannaghmore Titanium’ to win the Middle/ Heavyweight class and went on to win the Hunter Championship, with Lightweight and Ladies Hunter winner Rachel Simons and ‘Not Just Another Bay’ taking the Reserve title.

Nicci Hall and ‘Lady Killer’ won the 100cm Working Hunter Horse class at Danescroft’s Autumn Festival. PICTURES: courtesy of Ellie Johnston

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Victoria McCurdy on ‘Temple Bui’ took the Riding Horse Championship after winning the Veteran Horse class, while Reserve here went to Small Riding Horse class winner, Corinne Robb on ‘Braeview Masters Court’.

Victoria Teuton and ‘Shannaghmore Titanium’ won the Middle/ Heavyweight Hunter class and the Hunter Championship at Danescroft’s Autumn Festival.

In the Pony section, Megan Kelly on ‘Dirion Eleanor’ took the Lead Rein Championship, with Reserve going to Izzy Patterson on ‘Archie’.

Megan and ‘Dirion Eleanor’ then went on to take Reserve to the Ridden Pony Champion, Chloe Rooney on ‘Fairyhill Markle’.

Sunday saw the Working Hunter classes being held and there were some wide eyes as competitors walked the challenging course of fences, which asked some stiff questions and educated those who took it on.

Horse classes ran from 70cm up to 100cm, with many familiar names in the winning line ups - some of whom had multiples rides across the classes.

Victoria Mullen was one rider who juggled several mounts during the morning and, while one of them, ‘Sam’ took the runner-up position in the 80cm Working Hunter Horse class, he impressed the judges enough to claim the championship, with reserve going to 70cm runner-up, Heather Champion on her lovely Thoroughbred, ‘Royale Getaway’.

Heather Champion and ‘Royale Getaway’ were runners up in the 70cm Working Hunter Horse class and took the Reserve Champion title at Danescroft’s Autumn Festival.

It was then the turn of the ponies to take on the Working Hunter course, with many of the particpipants competing over more than one height with great success. Charlotte Cassidy on ‘Whisper’ got the ball rolling with a win in the cross-poles lead rein class. Lucy Keery on ‘Knockagarron Super Mario’ won both the unassisted cross-poles and the 40cm classes, while Katie Surgenor on ‘Cornaughy Joey’ won both the 60cm and 70cm classes. Rosalie Wells on ‘Blackertor Burlington Bertie’ won the 60cm M&M Small Breeds class; Shannon Carruthers on ‘Ratheen Sam’ won the 80cm class; and Chloe Rooney on ‘Fairyhill Markle’ won the 80cm Large Breed class. Taylor Ferguson and ‘Corglass Sandra’ won both the 90cm and 1m classes.

Chloe Rooney on ‘Fairyhill Markle’ took the pony championship, ahead of Katie Surgenor on ‘Cornaughey Joey’ in reserve.

Sincere thanks are extended to the judges for the two days, Showing - Julie Donaghy Simpson; In-hand - John Donaghy; Working Hunter - Alex Spencer and Andrew Greer; to the scribes and all the other helpers, as well as to the competitors for taking part.

RESULTS

DANESCROFT AUTUMN FESTIVAL

Saturday, September 28

SHOW HORSES

Lightweight Hunter:

1) Rachel Simons, Not Just Another Bay; 2) Caitlin Trainor, Westbank; 3) Jenny Nixon, Winnie.

Middle/Heavyweight Hunter:

1) Victoria Teuton, Shannaghmore Titanium.

Small Hunter:

1) Philip McAteer, Grey Goose On Ice; 2) Chloe Rooney, Willows Wonderly Fox.

Ladies Hunter:

1) Rachel Simons, Not Just Another Bay.

Champion:

Victoria Teuton, Shannaghmore Titanium; Reserve: Rachel Simons, Not Just Another Bay.

Irish Draughts:

1) Philip McAteer, Grey Goose On Ice; 2) Eva Kennedy, Arthur; 3) Sarah Brittain, Altona Sly Mist Bouncer.

Cobs:

1) Daniel Kennedy, Smok'em Benny; 2) Kerry Dickson, A Stolen Star; 3) Caitlin Johnston, Kilmore Black Beauty.

Kerry Dickson and ‘A Stolen Star’ were runners up in the Cob class at Danescroft’s Autumn Festival.

Champion:

Philip McAteer, Grey Goose On Ice; Reserve: Daniel Kennedy, Smok'em Benny. 

Small Riding Horse:

1) Corinne Robb, Braeview Master Court; 2) Victoria McCurdy, Temple Bui; 3) Anthea Steele, Rotherwood Its The Business.

Coloured Horse:

1) Elle Coffey, Let's Get Jiggy.

Veteran Horse:

1) Victoria McCurdy, Temple Bui; 2) Chloe Rooney, Willows Wonderly Fox; 3) Grainne Guiney, Touch Of Ferro; 4) Shannon McKibben, Risk All; 5) Suzi Craig, Ruby.

Racehorse To Riding Horse:

1) Sarah Morcombe, In Our Blood; 2) Sarah Pannasch, VSI Hendrix; 3) Shannon McKibben, Risk All; 4) Uma Dare, Nora.

Amateur Riding Horse:

1) Lindsay Kirk, Paris; 2) Suzi Craig, Ruby.

Newcomers:

1) Elle Coffey, Lets Get Jiggy; 2) Caron Glasgow, Touch Of Ferro.

Champion:

Victoria McCurdy, Temple Bui; Reserve: Corinne Robb, Braeview Masters Court.

Victoria McCurdy and ‘Temple Bui’ won the Veteran Horse class and the Riding Horse Championship at Danescroft’s Autumn Festival.

SHOW PONIES

Lead Rein Pony:

1) Megan Kelly, Dirion Eleanor; 2) Nyla Guiney, Jigsaw; 3) Izzy Patterson, Archie; 4) Joshua Clingan, Poppy.

Tiny Tots Lead Rein:

1) Nyla Guiney, Jigsaw; 2) Jessica Bell, Brooklan Dream Boy; 3) Jessica Clingan, Poppy.

Lead Rein M&M Pony:

1) Megan Kelly, Dirion Eleanor; 2) Izzy Patterson, Archie.

Champion:

Megan Kelly, Dirion Eleanor; Reserve: Izzy Patterson, Archie.

Ridden Connemara:

1) Chloe Rooney, Fairyhill Markle; 2) Ella Boyle, Laugh Fadda Heidi; 3) Shannon Carruthers, Rathenn Sam; 4) Sara McCracken, Lor Ruadh's Ceallach; 5) Sophia Campbell, Oxhill Andreas; 6) Enya Clarke, Glenwood Prince.

Ella Boyle and ‘Laugh Fadda Heidi’ placed second in both the Ridden Connemara class and the Large Breed M&M class at Danescroft’s Autumn Festival.

Large Breed M&M:

1) Shannon Carruthers, Ratheen Sam; 2) Ella Boyle, Laugh Fadda Heidi; 3) Chloe Rooney, Fivealley Nutmeg; 4) Poppy McIlduff, Cleen Dargan Boy; 5) Sophia Campbell, Oxhill Andreas; 6) Sara McCracken, Lor Ruadh's Ceallach.

Shannon Carruthers and ‘Ratheen Sam’ won the Large Breed M&M class at Danescroft’s Autumn Festival.

First Ridden:

1) Megan Kelly, Dirion Eleanor.

Champion:

Chloe Rooney, Fairyhill Markle; Reserve: Megan Kelly, Dirion Eleanor.

Sunday, September 29

WORKING HUNTER HORSES 

70cm Working Hunter Horse:

1) Katie Longmuir, Nady Diamond; 2) Heather Champion, Royale Getaway; 3) Tori Brown, Max; =4) Emma Jackson, Peaches; Kirsty Jackson, Dani; 5) Bree Rutledge, Jewel.

80cm Amateur Working Hunter Horse:

1) Lisa Napier, Carisma; 2) Shirley Anderson, Diago; 3) Katie Donnelly, Majestical Grey Fire; 4) Nicci Hall, Benji; 5) Caroline Chambers, Whitethorn Lane; 6) Sarah Pannasch, Odin.

80cm Small Working Hunter Horse:

1) Kirsty Jackson, Dani; 2) Caroline Chambers, Whitethorn Lane; 3) Nicci Hall, Benji; 4) Ellen English, Eagle; 5) Victoria Mullen, Rhum.

Caroline Chambers and ‘Whitethorn Lane’ were runners up in the 80cm Small Working Hunter Horse class at Danescroft’s Autumn Festival.

80cm Working Hunter Horse:

1) Victoria Mullen, Star Cappa; 2) Victoria Mullen, Sam; 3) Emma Jackson, Larry.

90cm Working Hunter Horse:

1) Emma Jackson, Jacko M; =2) Emma Jackson, Western Warrior; =2) Katie Donnelly, Majestical Grey Fire; 4) Shirley Anderson, Diago; 5) Eve Lindsay, Don Pablo; 6) Emma Jackson, Champ.

90cm 4yo Working Hunter Horse:

1) Victoria Mullen, Greenhall Overtake; 2) Emma Jackson, Tilly. 

90cm Irish Draught Working Hunter Horse:

1) Sarah Pannasch, Odin.

100cm Working Hunter Horse:

1) Nicci Hall, Ladykiller; 2) Rosie Cochrane, Rathfredagh Flirt; 3) Gillian Neill, Crafty Fox; 4) Emma Jackson, Jacko M; 5) Fiona Fitzgibbon, Ivy; 6) Emma Jackson, Western Warrior.

Rosie Cochrane and ‘Rathfredagh Flirt’ were runners up in the 100cm Working Hunter Horse class at Danescroft’s Autumn Festival.

Champion:

Victoria Mullen, Sam; Reserve: Heather Champion, Royale Getaway.

WORKING HUNTER PONIES 

Cross-Poles Working Hunter Pony - Lead Rein:

1) Charlotte Cassidy, Whisper; 2) Katie Ross, Cassie.

Charlotte Cassidy and ‘Whisper’ won the Cross-Poles Working Hunter Pony Lead Rein class at Danescroft’s Autumn Festival.

Cross-Poles Working Hunter Pony - Unassisted:

1) Lucy Keery, Knockagarron Super Mario; 2) Charlotte Cassidy, Whisper.

40cm Performance:

1) Lucy Keery, Knockagarron Super Mario.

60cm Working Hunter Pony:

1) Katie Surgenor, Cornaughy Joey; 2) Rosalie Wells, Blackertor Burlington Bertie; 3) Annabell Manson, Jessie; 4) Julia Kerr, Tyssal Quarta.

60cm M&M Small Breeds:

1) Rosalie Wells, Blackertor Burlington Bertie; 2) Julia Kerr, Cheerna.

70cm Working Hunter Pony:

1) Katie Surgenor, Cornaughey Joey; 2) Shannon Carruthers, Ratheen Sam; 3) Katie Surgenor, DS Ebony Boy; 4) Maisie McCracken, Lor Ruadh's Ceallach; 5) Erin Doherty, Jupiter Olympus; 6) Ella Boyle, Laugh Fadda Heidi.

80cm Working Hunter Pony:

1) Shannon Carruthers, Ratheen Sam; 2) Katie Surgenor, DS Ebony Boy; 3) Cora McNulty, Pippa.

80cm Large Breed Working Hunter Pony:

1) Chloe Rooney, Fairyhill Markle; 2) Ellie Campbell, Killspic Arya; 3) Maisie McCracken, Lor Ruadh's Ceallach.

90cm Connemara Working Hunter Pony:

=1) Taylor Ferguson, Corglass Sandra; =1) Eve Lindsay, Glenomore Tom; 2) Chloe Rooney, Fairyhill Markle.

1m Working Hunter Pony:

1) Taylor Ferguson, Corglass Sandra.

Champion:

Chloe Rooney, Fairyhill Markle; Reserve: Katie Surgenor, Cornaughey Joey.

The Working Hunter course incorporated some challenging and well-decorated fences!