Good conditions for County Londonderry Agricultural Show 2023

All competitions go ahead despite previous wet weather

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 weather was not kind in the run up to County Londonderry Agricultural Show at Limavady on Saturday, July 15, culminating in a horrendous thunderstorm on Friday night, which made organisers think that the show would not be going ahead. However, Saturday morning dawned with dry overhead conditions and the only rain throughout the day was a slight drizzle for a short time in the morning. The sun even came out in the afternoon!

Entries were limited, as many would-be competitors did not come, thinking the field would be too wet. Conditions were however good, considering the rain previously and the competitions were all able to be held. There were many comments from the competitors as to how good conditions were at the show field, given by kind permission of John McMonagle.

The Boggs family enjoyed and competed in almost all of the show jumping classes at Limavady Show. PICTURES: courtesy of Lyndon McKee and Kat McQuillan

Show secretary, Janet Currie, is extremely grateful to all those who came to support the show, but will be looking to 2024 with some schedule amendments, due to certain classes not being supported over the past few years.

Having said that, there was an entry in the Hunter mare and foal class, which was lovely to see, as this was the first time there had been a mare and foal shown at Limavady for a number of years. The Hunter young stock classes had also more entries than in the past.

There were many spectators, not associated with horse owners, watching and being appreciative of what they saw.

Eva Lowry on 'Randalstown Rigsby' receiving their cup for winning the Working Hunter Championship at Limavady.

Thanks go to the sponsors , Lee Johnston Farrier and Baileys Horse Feeds for their continued support. Also to many equestrian friends, who came on board on the day as volunteers, assisting with tasks from taking entries to picking up poles. Thanks also to all the judges: Sharyn Alexander, Eimear Higgins and show jumping judges Bernadette Harper, Patricia McLaughlin and Eavan White. To all the helpers from Route Hunt Pony Club, a huge thank you as well. Also thank you to the photographers, Lyndon McKee and and Kat McQuillan - photographs will be on their Facebook pages.

Finally, many thanks to John McMonagle, who always has the field looking well for the show day.

Sammy Workman on Loguestown Irish Cream', Connemara Ridden class winner and M&M Pony Champion, receiving their cup.

RESULTS

Saturday, July 15

County Londonderry Agricultural Show 2023

Class 1 Hunter Brood mare with foal at foot or due to foal in 2023:

1) Ballycann Marie, Shauna McCotter.

Class 1A Foal:

1) Pandora, Shauna McCotter.

Class 2 One-year-old filly likely to make a Hunter:

1) Lady Diana Gweebara, Zara Hamilton.

Class 3 Two-year-old Colt/ Gelding or Filly:

1) Doyles CC Benedict, Nicki Burnham; 2) Sam Mar High Cruise, Karl Rainey and Hannah Thompson; 3) Cash, Emma Dunn.

Class 4 Three-year-old Colt/ Gelding or Filly:

1) Chance Della Caccia, Frances Kealey.

Champion: Doyles Cee Cee Benedict, Nicki Burnham; Reserve: Chance Della Caccia, Frances Kealey.

Class 5 Coloured Any Age In Hand:

1) Mindy, Sophie Hamilton; 2) Cash, Emma Dunn.

Pure-bred Irish Draught:

1) Doyles Cee Cee Benedict, Nicki Burnham; 2) Lady Diana Gweebara, Zara Hamilton.

Megan Rourke and Rainbow won the 80cm class at Limavady.

Small Hunter Horse /Pony:

1) Pinecroft Clover, Michelle Patterson, Michelle Patterson; 2) Randalstown Darcon, Sam McAteer, Eva Lowry.

Lightweight Hunter:

1) Mullaghmeash Deano, Geoffrey Ross Glass (owner); 2) Shanaghan Grace, Cate O’Neill (owner).

Heavyweight/ Middleweight Hunter:

1) Ralph, Amy Taylor, Amy Taylor; 2) Danny Boy II, Jane Kealey, Frances Kealey.

Champion: Pinecroft Clover, Michelle Patterson, Michelle Patterson; Reserve: Ralph, Amy Taylor, Amy Taylor.

Riding Horse:

1) Danny Boy II, Jane Kealey, Frances Kealey; 2) Mullaghmease Deano, Geoffrey Ross Glass (owner); 3) Blackstown Masterclass, Lynn Thompson (owner).

Show Cob:

1) Randalstown Rigsby, Sam McAteer, Eva Lowry.

Traditional Cob:

1) Bonnie of The Roe, Tracey Eakin, Tracey Eakin.

Family Pony/ Cob (Rider Under 16) Kearney Shield:

1) Mindy, Sophie Hamilton, Sophie Hamilton; 2) Max, Jill Moffett (owner); 3) Charlie, Eleanor Lowry (owner); 4) Lila, Lucy Donaghy (owner).

Coloured Ridden:

1) Mindy, Sophie Hamilton (owner); 2) Ralph, Amy Taylor (owner); 3) Apple Jack, Pam Moore, Zara Moore; 4) Charlie, Eleanor Lowry (owner).

Alice Doddy and 'JD Forever Blue' competing in the 80cm class.

Pony Showing classes

Lead Rein:

1) Black Jack, Shane O’Grady, Ruby Cameron.

Family Pony Lead Rein:

1) Polo, Julie Bleakley, Ella McGlinchy.

Mini Championship: Polo, Julie Bleakley, Ella McGlinchy; Reserve: Black Jack, Shane O’Grady, Ruby Cameron.

Ridden Connemara:

1) Loguestown Irish Cream, Kathy Buchanan, Sam Workman; 2) Anitas Prince, Beth McCartney (owner); 3) Shannagh Ailbhe, Diane Weatherup, Diane Weatherup; 4) Hillside Angel, Teresa O’Hagan, Katie Kelly.

Mountain and Moorland:

1) Coxwood Fabien Stedman, Diane Weatherup, Caitlin Weatherup; 2) Lily Rose, Catriona McGill (owner).

Ridden Show Hunter Pony:

1) Hillside Angel, Teresa O’Hagan, Katie Kelly; 2) Farah, Alice Tweedale (owner).

Champion: Loguestown Irish Cream, Kathy Buchanan, Sam Workman; Reserve: Coxswood Fabiens Stedman, Diane Weatherup, Caitlin Weatherup.

Working Hunter Ponies

Starter Stakes

1) Curolea Rosi, Julie Bleakley, Oliver McGlinchey; 2) Apple Jack, Pam Moore, Zara Moore.

W.H. Under 153cm:

1) Mindy, Zara Hamilton, Zara Hamilton.

Mountain and Moorland:

1) Coxwood Fabien Stedman, Diane Weatherup, Caitlin Weatherup.

Champion: Mindy, Zara Hamilton; Reserve: Coxwood Fabien Stedman Caitlin Weatherup

Working Hunter Horses

Performance:

1) Chicco, Aine Cassley (owner); 2) Lila, Lucy Donaghy (owner); 3) Blue Lady, Catriona McGill (owner).

Four-year-old:

1) Tek Time Captain Cruise, Ailish McBride (owner); 2) Blue Lady, Catriona McGill (owner).

Novice:

1) Tek Time Captain Cruise, Ailish McBride (owner); 2) Chicco, Aine Cassley (owner); 3) Blackstown Masterclass, Lynn Thompson, Cate O’Neill.

Open Working Hunter:

1) Shanaghan Grace, Cate O’Neill (owner).

Champion: Tek Time Captain Cruise, Ailish McBride; Reserve: Shanagan Grace, Cate O’Neill.

Four-year-old Jessica Boggs loves her pony and enjoys competing in the cross-poles with her mum Lorraine.

Unregistered/ Local Show Jumping

Class 1 Cross-Poles Assisted:

=1) Mr Sparkles, Lucie McAleer; Mario, Alexis McMichael; Bonnie, Jessica Boggs; Oreo, Logan Boggs; Sully, Taylor Parkley.

Class 2 Cross-Poles Unassisted:

=1) Sully, Taylor Parkley; Rosi, Oliver McGlinchey; Oreo, Logan Boggs.

Class 3 50cm:

=1) Rosi, Oliver McGlinchey; Pebbles, Caleb Mitchell; Jonjo, Grace Clarke; Pixie, Zoe Dobbin; Apple Jack, Zara Moore.

Zara Moore and 'Apple Jack' jumped clear in the 50cm class at Limavady.

Class 4 60cm:

=1) Pebbles, Caleb Mitchell; Vendi, Faith Lindsay; Jonjo, Grace Clarke; Topper, Darcey McMichael; Smurf, Perrie Parkley; Cinnamon, Miley Rourke; Josie, Alice Hill.

Class 5 70cm:

=1) Lila, Lucy Donaghy; Vendi, Faith Lindsay; Ted, Charlotte Killen.

Class 6 80cm:

1) Rainbow, Megan Rourke; 2) Ted, Charlotte Killen; 3) Shorty, Zoe Dobbins.

Class 7 90cm:

1) Josie, Alice Hill; 2) Paca, Katie Boggs; 3) Shortie, Zoe Dobbins.

Class 8 - 1m:

1) Charlie, Josie Doherty.

Josie Doherty on 'Charlie', winner of the 90cm class, is congratulated by judge, Eavan White.