Testing Working Hunter course at Hagans Croft
Rocky start for horse classes at Bailiesmills venue
It was a rocky start to the 60cm and Four-year-old Working Hunter Horse class at Hagans Croft Equestrian, Bailiesmills on Saturday, October 14, with all three competitors receiving eliminations, despite all their efforts to jump around the course of nine fences.
Despite this bad start, the 70cm and 80cm classes saw Shirley Anderson and 'Diago' take the win, followed by Felicity Pierce and 'Smokey' in second.
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Shirley and 'Diago' were then also awarded Reserve Champion Horse on the day! Shirley was delighted to say the least.
Leanne Sullivan and 'Ted' are in preparation for the hunting season ahead and they were off to a great start in the 80cm cob class, taking first place. It’s been a while since Hagans Croft saw Amy Harvey and 'Indian Rose' out competing at this venue and, true to form, they did not disappoint, as they claimed first place in the 85cm Small Working Hunter Horse class and secured their place within the championship class.
Marina Stewart picked herself up from an unfortunate fall in the 80cm class; not taking any chances in the 90cm class, Marina and 'Troy' galloped home to a top score of 92/100 and first place. The pair also went on to be crowned Champion Horse on the day, with judge Nicola Martin admitting she would love to take 'Troy' out on a day’s hunting, as he looks so much fun!
Kerry Magill and 'Cruz' took the win in the 1m class, which was very well deserved for this pair, as they have worked so hard to get to this level. A beautiful combination!
The afternoon session saw the ponies descend onto Hagans Croft, with the classes starting again from 60cm. With three out of the four competitors jumping clear, it was down to the ridden show to separate the placings. Taylor-Lee Doyle and 'Oreo' finished on 91/100 and took the win. Nothing could separate Charlotte Gray and Julia Kerr into second and third, as the pair finished on exactly the same scores and therefore the two competitors took joint second place. To their delight, this meant all three competitors got to enter the championship class at the end of the day!
Scores were tight in the 70cm class, however, taking the win was Imogen Gray and 'Mountfield Temple Boy' and second place went to Anna Sloan and 'Bali'. Anna Sloan went on to place second again, this time in the 80cm pony class, with Rebecca Horner and 'Ballylisk Midnight Lad' taking the win.
It was then on to the 90cm class, where all three competitors entered jumped lovely clear rounds over the nine fences. It was therefore all down to those most important scores within the ridden showpiece. Competitors get marks for their manners and performance, tack and turnout and conformation and movement. With 0.5 marks separating all three competitors, the scores were extremely tight. Taking the win were Holly Blythe and 'Cor Ramler', with Eva Kennedy and 'Nicely Dun Darcy' in second place. Holly Blythe also went on to take the win in the 1m class.
Admittedly, judge Nicola Martin had some very hard decisions to make within the pony championship show. There was some very accurate, foot-perfect performances on the day; this made the gallop at the end all the more important. Champion Pony on the day went to Taylor-Lee Doyle and the very colourful 'Oreo' and Reserve Champion on the day was awarded to Imogen Gray and 'Mountfield Temple Boy'. Congratulations to both girls, as they certainly put on a fantastic show.
Hagans Croft would like to thank everyone who supported the second week of their four-week Working Hunter league and NIF Qualifiers. Thanks are extended to judge Nicola Martin; scribe Katie and all the stewards and arena party for making the event run so smoothly. This event is pre-entry only, with entries taken via Hagans Croft’s website: www.haganscroftequestrian.co.uk or you can download and enter through the Hagans Croft App. Entries close each Thursday at 9pm prior to Saturday’s event and start times are posted online on Thursday evenings. Photographs can be purchased online from Black Horse Photography.
To find out more about the league, please contact Gillian on 07849 106453 or go to the website: www.haganscroftequestrian.co.uk
RESULTS
Saturday, October 14
Working Hunter League & NIF Qualifiers
WORKING HUNTER HORSES
Champion Horse: Marina Stewart, Troy; Reserve: Shirley Anderson, Diago.
Class 1 - 60cm Working Hunter Horse & Four-year-old Working Hunter Horse NIF:
No placings.
Class 2 - 70cm Working Hunter Horse:
1) Shirley Anderson, Diago; 2) Felicity Pierce, Smokey; 3) Louise Reid, Bertie.
Class 3 - 80cm Working Hunter Horse NIF:
1) Shirley Anderson, Diago; 2) Felicity Pierce, Smokey.
Class 4 - 80cm Working Hunter Cob:
1) Leanne Sullivan, Ted.
Class 5 - 85cm Small Working Hunter Horse (not exceeding 158cm) NIF:
1) Amy Harvey, Indian Rose.
Class 6 - 90cm Working Hunter Horse NIF:
1) Marina Stewart, Troy; 2) Craig Hills, Blueoak Lifeguard; 3) Kaitlyn Kearns, Winter Cruise; 4) Leanne Sullivan, Ted.
Class 7 - 1m Working Hunter Horse NIF:
1) Kerry Magill, Cruz.
WORKING HUNTER PONIES
Champion Pony: Taylor-Lee Doyle, Oreo; Reserve: Imogen Gray, Mountfield Temple Boy.
Class 8 - 60cm Working Hunter Pony NIF Starter Stakes & M&M:
1) Taylor-Lee Doyle, Oreo; 2) Charlotte Gray, Tabby; 3) Julia Kerr, Cheerna; 4) Holly McCarroll, Ballydearg Zara.
Class 9 - 70cm Working Hunter Pony NIF Starter Stakes & M&M:
1) Imogen Gray, Mountfield Temple Boy; 2) Anna Sloan, Bali; 3) Taylor-Lee Doyle, Oreo.
Class 10 - 80cm Working Hunter Pony NIF 133cm also M&M:
1) Rebecca Horner, Ballylisk Midnight Lad; 2) Anna Sloan, Bali.
Class 11 - 90cm Working Hunter Pony NIF 143cm also M&M:
1) Holly Blythe, Cor Ramler; 2) Eva Kennedy, Nicely Dun Darcy; 3) Rebecca Horner, Ballylisk Midnight Lad.
Class 12 - 1m Working Hunter Pony NIF 153cm:
1) Holly Blythe, Cor Ramler.