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IN THE PRESS
Saturday
26th April 2008 Show Report
Friday
25th April 2008 Show Report
Final
Chances to Qualify!
Northern
Ireland Festival set for the Biggest Show yet!
Launch
of the 2008 Northern Ireland Festival
After
Show Press Release 2007
Aaron
Scoops the 'Grand' Prize at the Northern Ireland Festival.
The Saturday
classes at the Northern Ireland Festival recommenced very early with
a 7am start in the Working Hunter ring. Course builder, Adrienne
Stuart and her arena team, worked hard all day, amending the course
for each of the 10 Festival Championship finals. Competitors eagerly
awaited the results being posted to see if they had been successful
in getting into the top 10 in each class and therefore able to go
forward for the prestigious rosette presentation in the evening
performance.
In the other
rings the ridden classes kicked off with the Mini Mountain and
Moorland ponies and the Hunters in the Horse ring. The first
championship of the day was the Stat Oil Mini M&M Championship
was won by Jodie Creighton on her Welsh Section A Open Lead Rein
pony, Kenilwood Monarch. Reserve in this section was Hannah Thompson
riding Zoë Bell's Open First Ridden Shetland pony, Barns Isabel.
Jodie and
Hannah were once again successful in the HorseWorld, Mini Show Hunter
Pony Championship, when Jodie was Champion on Mountain Gamecock and
Hannah took the Reserve sash on Kenilwood April. Jodie did the
hat-trick when she was also successful in winning the Barline
Transport, Mini Show Pony Championship on Musley Legacy, giving her a
dilemma with regard to which pony to ride in the Mini Supreme
Championship on Saturday night. Reserve in the Mini Show Pony
championship was Naomi O'Brien on Ravara Jack Rabbit.
Evening
Performance Championships
The first
championship in the indoor arena in the evening performance was the
Powder Monkeys, Mini Supreme Championship. After deliberation the
judges called Kenilwood Monarch forward as the Mini Supreme Champion,
ably ridden on this occasion by Megan Dumigan. Hannah Thompson was
the Reserve Supreme Champion on Kenilwood April with Jodie Creighton
and Mountain Gamecock as 2nd Reserve Supreme Champions.
The Baileys
Horse Feeds Cob Championship went to Ann Regan for the 2nd year in a
row. This time however she partnered her Heavyweight Cob, Brodie, to
take the championship title. Reserve went to Hannah Cuthbertson and
her Lightweight Cob, Fitzpatrick.
The M&M
ponies were split into Small and Large Breeds. The Nupafeed, Large
Breeds Championship was won by Caroline Leighton riding Jayne
Maxwell's Connemara pony, Abbeyfern. This young pony had an excellent
show winning both the Novice M&M Championship as well as the Open
M&M Large Breeds Championship. The Reserve Championship was taken
by Zoë Bell on her Fell pony, Lunesdale Starboy.
The Nupafeed,
Small Breeds Championship was won by Hannah Dumigan with her stunning
Welsh Section B pony, Carrwood Xanthus. Reserve in this section was
Sarah Curry on the big moving Shetland pony, Barns Isabel. The two
Small Breeds ponies took the overall Nupafeed, M&M Championship
sashes.
The N.I.B.C.
Riding Horse Championship was the next prestigious final in the main
arena. A very happy Amy O'Brien was called forward as Champion on
Teddy Star with Emma Fleming and Miakoda Dreamer as Reserve
Champions.
The Warwick
Engineering, Show Pony section was hotly contested. Shannon Deasley,
the winner of the 148cms section, was called forward on Brookvale
Court Jester as the overall champion. Lauren Finn rode Brookwater
Lord of the Light to take the Reserve Championship sash.
Next it was
the turn of the Hunters to contest the Rockvale Farm &
Equestrian, Hunter Championship. The judges' choice was Mike Lewis's
Lightweight Hunter winner, Lorenzo, for the 2nd year in a row, this
time ridden by Judith Ryan. The Reserve Championship sash went to
Aaron McCusker riding Connswater Silver Granite.
The final
ridden championship before the Supremes was the Kenilwood Stud, Show
Hunter Pony Championship. It went to the Curry family for the 3rd
year in a row, when Sarah Curry followed in her sister's footsteps to
win the Championship on her 133cms pony, Parkhill Playboy. The
Reserve Championship sash also went to the 133cms section with Daniel
Corbett and Glenhuntley Trojan Troy being called forward.
Festival
Working Hunter Championship Finals
The Festival
Working Hunter championship finals are always the major attraction of
the N. I. Festival with all competitors trying to claim their place
in the IMG Challenge Festival WH Supreme Championship and the chance
to win the £1000 prize money.
The youngest
WH class was the Blackstown Stud, Cradle Stakes final, which was won
for the 2nd year by Alexandra Ryan on Corn Poppy. The Equest, Starter
Stakes Championship was won by Sarah Curry on Kenilwood April with
Jordan Patterson and Woodvale Classic Lady taking the ribbons in the
M&D Construction, 133cms WH final. Phoebe Jennings had a very
successful show and won the HorseWorld 143cms WH final for the 2nd
year in a row, making it a very worthwhile trip. After having won the
Novice 153cms WH class and the Reserve Novice WH Championship title
on Friday night, Suzannah McGowan maintained top form and came back
on Saturday night to win the H. V. S. Equine, 153cms Championship
final on Cool Silome.
Another
competitor to repeat their success from 2007, was Jamie Smyth, who
won the 1m Horse WH Final for the 2nd year, this time riding New
Ferry Sovereign. The Dennison Commercials Ltd., 90cms Horse WH final
was won by Aaron McCusker on Connswater Centre with Victoria
Henderson winning the Stat Oil 80cms class on Silken Belle.
Two new
Festival Championship finals had been added in this year to cater for
the growth in interest in the M&M Working Hunter ponies. The
Barline Transport, Large Breeds final was won by, a very happy,
Alicia Devlin-Byrne on Blackwood Fernando. Rose Gregg celebrated her
birthday in style when she collected the ribbons in the Prime
Photography Small Breeds class on her Shetland pony, Topsy of Hutton.
Supreme Championships
The three
overall Supreme Championships followed. The Magners Ridden Horse
Supreme saw Judith Ryan and Lorenzo take the top accolade and the
Supreme Championship sash. Amy O'Brien and Teddy Star were the
Reserve Supreme Horse Champions with Ann Regan picking up the 2nd
Reserve Supreme ribbons with her Cob Champion, Brodie.
In the
Fermanagh Council, Ridden Pony Supreme Championship, the Corbett
family followed up on their success from 2007, when Shannon Corbett
was called forward on her new Intermediate Pony to win the Supreme
Championship title. The Show Hunter Pony Champions, Sarah Curry and
Parkhill Playboy, won the Reserve Supreme Pony Championship title.
Jodie Creighton and Kenilwood Monarch were called forward to receive
the 2nd Reserve Supreme sash.
The final
Supreme, and highlight of the show, was the Irwin McGrath Festival
Working Hunter Supreme Championship and the presentation of the
£1000 cheque to the winner. The winners were called forward in
reverse order. The 2nd Reserve Supreme Champion was the smallest pony
in the final and went to the M&M Small Breeds WH Champion, Rose
Gregg and Topsy of Hutton. The Reserve Supreme WH Championship title
and sash was awarded to Sarah Curry, riding Debbie Irwin's Starter
Stakes pony, Kenilwood April, making it Sarah's second Reserve
Supreme sash of the evening. Excitement was high as the overall WH
Supreme Champion was announced. This year the title, and the cheque
for £1,000, went to Aaron McCusker on Connswater Centre, winners
of the 90cms Horse WH final.
Congratulations
to all prizewinners on their successes.
Northern
Ireland Festival attracts record number of entries
The Northern
Ireland Festival recently held their first ever 2-day show at Necarne
Castle in Co Fermanagh. The additional classes were well received
with entries up an amazing 50% on the previous year and well above
the forecasted levels.
The organisers
were delighted to see competitors from all over Ireland competing at
the show with many staying over and using the 300 stables that were
on-site this year.
The first day
of the show was primarily dedicated to novice ridden and working
hunter competitors and also new in-hand classes. There were two new
prestigious Supreme Championships added to the evening performance
for the winners of these sections.
The first
championship of the day was the Horse Working Hunter Championship
where Corinne Robb booked her ticket into the Novice Supreme on her
novice horse, Braeview Nemesis. This was the start of an excellent
day for Corinne.
The other
daytime ridden championship was the Part-Bred Pony Championship,
where Sarah Curry won the Part-Bred Arab Ridden class before taking
the Part-Bred Championship on her 133cms Show Hunter pony, Parkhill
Playboy. The Reserve Champion in this section was the Part-Bred Welsh
Ridden winner, Shannon Deasley and Brookvale Court Jester.
The other
daytime championships were four new In-Hand Section Championships
with the Champion and Reserve from each championship going forward to
the In-Hand Supreme on Friday evening. This was the first time that
the Festival had catered for in-hand ponies and was delighted with
the support for all the classes. In particular the M&M classes
were very well supported with strong competition. The first in-hand
championship was the Prime Photography, M&M In-Hand Championship,
which was won by Ernie Sommerville with his Connemara pony, Manninard
Sir Ganty. The Reserve Champion was Brian Lewis's HollyOak Annalise.
It was then
the turn of the in-hand show hunter ponies. The Blackstown Stud,
Championship sash went to Gillian Torren's Brookvale Court Jester
with Elaine Sherrard and Parkhill Ronaldo taking the Reserve sash.
The Brookvale Stud was well represented in the show pony section too
when breeder, Connor McCormick won the show pony in-hand championship
with Brookvale Lavender Lady.
The Welsh
Section D Stallion Ballynacoy Celtic Warrior shown by James Curran
won the Rea Distribution Ltd, In-Hand Stallion championship.
Excitement was
high for the Stat Oil gala evening performance on Friday night with
many competitors participating in their first formal evening performance.
The first
evening championship was the M&D Construction, Novice Pony
Working Hunter Championship, which was won by John O'Hare on his
143cms WH pony Tyrsdagar. Reserve in this championship went to
Suzannah McGowan on her 153cms WH pony, Cool Silome.
The Chestnutt
Sashes, Novice Show Pony Championship was won by Rachel Moore on her
new 128cms show pony ride for this year, Maytown Touch of Class.
Lauren Finn took over the ride of Brookwater Lord of the Light to
take the Reserve ribbons in the show pony section.
The M&M
Working Hunter classes had been very well supported at the show
indicating a surge of interest in these sections. The Redrock
Trailers, M&M WH championship on this occasion went to the small
breeds with Holly McClenaghan riding the Welsh Section A pony,
Roseisle Matilda Mouse. Alice Higgins and Grey Victory were called
forward as worthy Reserve Champions after winning the large breeds class.
The Black
Mountain Properties, Novice Show Hunter Championship was won by
another new combination for this year. A very happy Rachel Maybin
scooped the Championship sash on her new 143cms Show Hunter pony,
Parkhall Carpe Diem with Shannon Deasley and Brookvale Court Jester
as Reserve Champions.
The Pony Ads,
Open Intermediate Championship followed and was won by the Corbett
family for the 2nd year with Shannon Corbett riding her new
Intermediate Show Hunter pony, Lord Ryan to take the top award. Jamie
Smyth and Newferry Diamond Dancer had been 2nd in this class and took
the Intermediate Reserve Championship sash.
The final
championship before the excitement of the 2 Supreme Championships was
the Connell Hill Equestrian Centre, Novice M&M Ridden section. In
this championship young Sophie McDonald took the championship ribbons
on her Dartmoor pony, Huttons Ambo Mayflower. Caroline Leighton rode
Jayne Maxwell's 4-year-old Connemara pony, Abbeyfern, to win the
Reserve Championship sash.
All the
in-hand champion and reserve champion competitors hotly contested the
Roadside Garages, In-Hand Supreme Championship. After much
deliberation the judges awarded the overall In-Hand Supreme
Championship sash to James Curran and the stunning Welsh Section D
Stallion, Ballynacoy Celtic Warrior. The Reserve In-Hand Supreme sash
went to Connor McCormick and his previous HOYS Cuddy finalist,
Brookvale Lavender Lady. The 2nd Reserve Championship Sash went to
the M&M In-Hand champion, Manninard Sir Ganty shown by Ernie Sommerville.
The finale of
the evening was the Ian's School of Motoring, Novice Supreme
Championship, where all the novice ridden and working hunter horses
and ponies came together for the final judging.
Getting the
judges' vote and winning the Supreme title was Corinne Robb on her
novice working hunter horse, Braeview Nemesis. The Reserve Supreme
title went to the youngest supreme finalist, Sophie McDonald, on her
Dartmoor pony, Huttons Ambo Mayflower. The 2nd Reserve Supreme
Championship sash was won by Michael Lewis on the 4 year ridden and
WH horse winner, Raphael.
The Festival
are very grateful to all those who helped at the show and in
particular to all the sponsors who make it possible to run such a
prestigious show. The results from the Festival classes and
championships that took place on Saturday 26th April at Necarne will
appear in the press next week with further photographs, kindly
supplied by Prime Photography.
Flat Out Media
will be producing a DVD of both evening performances for competitors
to purchase. Contact details for Flat Out Media and Prime
Photography, as well as the full results, can be seen on the Festival
website at www.northernirelandfestival.co.uk.
Final
Chances to Qualify!
With the
Northern Ireland Festival just 2 weeks away the final qualifying
shows are expecting a last minute rush by competitors looking to
obtain the prestigious qualifying cards and the opportunity to
compete for the £1,000 Championship prize at Necarne.
New - Festival
Working Hunter Qualifier for Co Tyrone Show!
A new show,
for both Horses and Ponies, has just been awarded the much sought
after Festival Working Hunter qualifiers in Co Tyrone. Ecclesville
Equestrian Centre will host one of the final sets of qualifiers at
their Horse and Pony Working Hunter Show on Saturday 19th April 2008.
The Festival Committee are pleased to have secured a venue and date
for qualifiers for the Co Tyrone area and hope it will be well
supported. Entries will be taken on the day and further information
can be obtained from contacting telephone number 07920 501949. The
schedule can also be downloaded from the Festival website at
www.northernirelandfestival.co.uk and then by clicking on 'Qualifying Shows'.
Gransha
Working Hunter Shows.
Further
opportunities to qualify will also be held at Gransha Equestrian
Centre on Saturday 19th April for Horses and on Sunday 20th April for
Ponies. Contact Gransha Equestrian Centre on 028 9181 3313 for
further information or see the Festival website for a copy of the
schedule. All of the above shows commence at 10am.
Co Kildare Qualifiers
There are also
2 final qualifiers being held in Co Kildare to cater for the
increased demand from the South of Ireland. The first will be held on
Sunday 13th April 2008 at Coilog Equestrian Centre, Kilmeague, Co
Kildare and will include both the M&M Small and Large Breeds
Working Hunter qualifiers.
The 2nd
Southern Show will be held at Kill Equestrian Centre, Kill, Co
Kildare on Sunday 20th April 2008. The contact for both these shows
is Neil O'Brien on 00353 862 505929.
Final Reminder
- Closing Date - 10th April !!
The final date
for pre-entries for the Festival is 10th April 2008. These can be
done on-line on the Festival website www.northernirelandfestival.co.uk.
Entries
received after this date will not be able to be catalogued and will
be charged at the on-the-day price.
Northern
Ireland Festival set for the Biggest Show yet!
With the N. I.
Festival just under 4 weeks away, the organisers are delighted to
announce the prestigious line-up of judges for the 2008 show.
Prestigious
line-up of judges!
The horse
judges will be Sarah Chapman, Anthony Webber, Marion Thomas, Captain
Alwyn Varley and Anne Varley.
In the pony
rings the judges will be Pip Baker-Beall, Rosemary Hetherington,
Martin Jones, Hilary Samuels and Carolyn Whiteley.
Details of the
classes and the allocated judges are now available on the Festival
website at www.northernirelandfestival.co.uk.
Important
Informaton for all competitors!
Entries are
coming in thick and fast for the expanded number of classes in the
schedule for this year's Festival. Already the entry numbers are
close to the total number of entries at last year's show. It promises
to be an exciting and very prestigious show in 2008. The organisers
would like to draw competitors' attention to several important pieces
of information regarding the 2008 show.
Closing Date -
10th April 2008!
Firstly, the
organisers would like to advise competitors that pre-entries are
still able to be completed on-line but only up until 10th April 2008.
After this
date, any entries received will be classed as 'on the day' entry and
be subject to the increased entry fee and will not be catalogued.
Only stables
that have been booked, and paid for, by this date will be able to be
honoured, as the final numbers for stables need to be confirmed to
the stabling supplier. Some stables are still available, so please
book now if you need a stable for the duration of the show.
Festival
Qualifying Cards
All Festival
Working Hunter Qualifying Cards should be sent in, with the correct
entry fee, within 7 days of qualifying. Any Festival Working Hunter
qualifying cards received after the closing date of 10th April will
not be accepted, as the catalogue will have gone to print. The only
exception will be cards awarded at qualifying shows that take place
after 10th April 2008, which will be accepted, but which won't be
able to be catalogued.
Any
alterations to classes after the closing date will be subject to a
£5 administration fee.
Important
Information - Access to Necarne!
The gates of
the Showground at Necarne will open at 5pm on Thursday 24th April
2008 for N. I. Festival competitors. Entry to the car parks and
access road will NOT be available before 5pm as the college will
still be in use. The show organisers ask that all competitors respect
this and not arrive at Necarne until this time, as access will not be
granted until 5pm.
Once the gates
are open, please follow the car park attendants' directions and park
as instructed. It is going to be a busy show and car parking will be
actively managed in order to optimise the available parking space for
competitors. Please follow the officials' instructions to assist in
this process.
Once parked
competitors will then be able to visit the FESTIVAL SHOW OFFICE to
collect your Show Competition Numbers, Stable Zone information and
your Shavings Voucher. One 'Shavings Voucher' will be supplied free
for each stable booked. Competitors can then exchange this voucher
for one bale of blue frog shavings by presenting it to the stable
manager. Additional bales will be available, to be purchased on-site,
at a price of £6.50 per bale. The Festival Office will sell
these additional vouchers, if required, and can also take late
entries on the Thursday evening.
The Festival
Committee wish all competitors a successful and enjoyable show.
On-line entries and further information can be accessed on-line at
www.northernirelandfestival.co.uk. For any general enquiries please
contact Show Director, John Irwin, on 07855 486480 or Secretary,
Leonora Curry, on 07980 999123.
Good Luck at
the 2008 Northern Ireland Festival.
Launch
of the 2008 Northern Ireland Festival
'This year's
N. I. Festival, at Necarne Castle on 25th & 26th April 2008, is
shaping up to be the best yet!'
The highlight
of the showing year, for many, is the prestigious Northern Ireland
Festival. The 2007 show was a great success with entries into some of
the Working Hunter classes having to be closed early due to the
numbers involved.
Due to these
entry numbers at last year's show, and the demand for additional
classes, the N. I. Festival committee have extended the show to run
over 2 days this year. It will be held, as usual, against the
magnificent setting of Necarne Castle in Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh
and will commence on Friday 25th April and run on until late on
Saturday 26th April. This will be the 4th year for the Festival,
which has quickly earned its reputation for being Ireland's 'Premier
Horse and Pony Show'.
The Committee
had sought, and have listened to, feedback from competitors and have
implemented several changes that will make the show a better overall
'showing experience' in 2008.
The additional
classes that will be featured this year include In-Hand Breeding and
Youngstock classes for Show Ponies, Show Hunter Ponies and M&M
Ponies with separate classes for stallions.
There will
also be a Working Hunter Cob class, M&M Working Hunter classes
and Novice Horse and Pony Working Hunter classes. The Festival
committee hope these classes will be well supported in order to allow
them to be continued at next year's show.
The two-day
show is themed this year. On Friday, the focus will be on the In-Hand
Ponies and Novice Ridden and Working Hunter Horse and Pony classes.
On Saturday, the Mini Ridden Ponies, the Open Ridden and Open Working
Hunter Horses and Ponies will compete, as well as those competitors
fortunate enough to have qualified for the Festival Open Working
Hunter championships. This year there are also Festival Championship
finals for M&M Small & Large Breeds. These ponies will also
compete for the much-sought-after Working Hunter Championship title
and the £1,000 prize money.
Two
Prestigious Evening Performances
The evening
performance at the N. I. Festival is always the highlight of the show
for competitors. This year there will be two prestigious evening
performances to cater for the wider range of classes. Again these
will be themed and will provide the opportunity for more competitors
to enjoy this special occasion.
There will be
an In-Hand Supreme Championship on the Friday evening as well as a
Novice Supreme Championship, Intermediate Championship and M&M
Working Hunter Championship.
Saturday night
will host the Mini Supreme Championship; the Open Ridden
Championships and the prestigious Ridden Supreme Championship; the
Festival Working Hunter finals and finally the overall Working Hunter
Supreme Championship and the chance to win the coveted £1,000
prize money.
Demand for
stables is very high
The Festival
website has been updated with the 2008 schedule and entries and
stable bookings can be completed on-line. Already, many people have
availed of the opportunity to complete their entries and book their
stables for the duration of the show. This year there is a set fee
for stabling for the full weekend and stables will be available to
competitors from Thursday evening through to Sunday morning. These
stables are being snapped up very quickly and the Festival committee
urge you to book your stable now if you want to be on-site at the
show. Further details can be found on the website at www.northernirelandfestival.co.uk.
If you don't
have internet access and need a hard copy of the schedule and entry
forms sent out, please contact Secretary Leonora Curry on 07980 999123.
Qualifiers for
the Working Hunter finals continue to be held for both horses and
ponies and details can be found on the Festival website. The next set
of horse and pony qualifiers will be held at Laurelview on Sunday
27th January followed by the NIWHA Show at Moneydig on Saturday 2nd February.
For any other
queries regarding the Festival, or if you are interested in
sponsoring some of the classes or championships, please contact Show
Director, John Irwin, on 07855 486480.
Northern
Ireland Festival 'Grand' Success
The 3rd Annual
Northern Ireland Festival was held recently against the fantastic
backdrop of Necarne Castle, Co Fermanagh. A record number of
competitors enjoyed glorious sunshine throughout the day.
In the three
years that the show has now been running, entry numbers have more
than doubled with it now having over 700 entries for the one-day show.
This year the
Festival attracted a lot of competitors from all over Ireland, as
well as local competitors, living up to its reputation of being
Northern Ireland's 'premier horse and pony show'.
A very busy
schedule in the Working Hunter ring meant a very early 7am start for
the young cradle stakes and starter stakes WH riders. With the final
placings being announced in the prestigious evening performance,
competition was tough to get into the top ten - especially in some
classes where there were cc 60 animals entered. Adrienne Stuart had
devised an excellent course for all the classes. She and Joanne
Petrie are to be commended on the way they managed to co-ordinate the
classes and get cc 300 ponies and horses through the ring during the day.
In the Ridden
Pony Ring, the first championship of the day was won by Darcy Curtett
riding Senateview Angelica in the Mini Show Pony Championship,
securing their place in the evening performance Mini Champion of
Champions. Hannah Thompson rode Debbie Irwin's Kenilwood April to win
the Mini Show Hunter Pony Championship and Sophie McDonald won the
Mini M&M Championship on Huttons Ambo Mayflower.
The majority
of the Championships were then held amidst the razzamataz of the
Barline Evening Performance. With a busy schedule to get through,
Derek Spencer and Carey Knox provided the usual professional
commentary backed up by a very efficient band of helpers who ensured
the evening flowed with military precision!
The first
championship in the evening performance was the Powder Monkeys Mini
Champion of Champions presented by Desna Lewis. Judges Pat Monaghan
and Tracey Hulatt awarded this title went to Darcy Curtett on
Senateview Angelica with Hannah Thompson and Kenilwood April as the
Reserve Champions.
Jamison
Landrovers had very kindly provided 2 Landrover jeeps as courtesy
vehicles for the duration of the show. The Jamison Landrover Novice
Ridden Pony Championship was judged by Karel Doyle who found her
Champion in Dairina Walsh's novice show hunter pony, Glenhuntley
Trojan Troy, ably ridden by 12 year old Daniel Corbett. The Reserve
Champion sash went to Daniel's older sister Shannon on Falfield Honey Buzzard.
The Kenilwood
Stud Small Hunter class had the final placings presented next. Simon
Reynolds and Natalie More chose Corrine Robb and Braeview Nemisis as
their winner.
Dairina Walsh,
Director of Nupafeed Ireland presented the Nupafeed M&M Ridden
Championship sashes. The Champion sash went to Kathryn Curry, riding
Jack Irwin's Connemara pony, Ballybawn Millar, winners of the Open
Large Breeds class. The Reserve Champion was Hannah Dumigan on her
Welsh Section B pony, Carwood Xanthus.
Barline
Transport and the Maybin family were one of the key sponsors at the
Festival, providing support for the many portable stables that were
erected for the show. The Barline Transport Cob Championship was won
by Ann Regan on her own home-bred Cob, Shaskeen with Julie McLernon
and Compendium as Reserve Champions.
In the Julie's
Kitchens Show Pony Championship Eirin Corbett won the Championship
sash on her new 4 year old show pony Moluccas Moonlight Mace with
Sarah Curry and Kenilwood Windsong as Reserve Champions.
The BSPM
Riding Horse Championship title was won by Jennifer Kennedy riding
Regal Speculation, making it a very worthwhile trip from Co. Wicklow
for Jennifer. Judith Ryan and Lorenzo were the judges' choice for the
Reserve Champion Riding Horse title.
The CVC NI
Show Hunter Pony Championship was won for the 2nd year by Kathryn
Curry riding Knockreigh Mistletoe with Eirin Corbett and Whitemere
Jenny Wren as Reserve Champions.
The Axa Pest
Control Hunter Championship saw the first and 2nd placed competitors
from each of the Small, Lightweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight
horse classes compete for the championship sash. The judges found
their Champion in the Lightweight section with Mike Lewis and
Lorenzo. The Reserve Champion was the Heavyweight winner, Richard
Iggulden and Freddie Kruger.
The final
ridden championship of the evening performance was the PonyAds.co.uk
Intermediate Championship. Paul Smith, designer and administrator for
the very successful N.I.Festival website and of the PonyAds website,
came forward to present the sashes to the winners. Arthur Illsley
chose Kelly Corbett and Becca Royal Gold as his Champion with Louise
Henry and The Connoisseur as Reserve Champions.
The highlight
of the Festival is always the Working Hunter final, which were
sponsored this year by Jack Irwin and Paddy McGrath of Irwin McGrath Solicitors.
After having
been in the ring at 7am, the HSS Hire Cradle Stakes class started the
WH section of the evening performance. The winners of this youngest
section were Alexandra Ryan on Corn Poppy with Victoria Truesdale and
Murloughdale Sparko in 2nd place.
The Bailey's
Horse Feeds Starter Stakes class was then won by Emily McGowan and
Snowstorm of Tyrella with Rachel Maybin and Landswood Jack of
Diamonds in 2nd place.
The Beauty
Secrets 133cms Pony class was won by Jayne Moore on Master Jamie with
Daniel Brown and Golden Flight in 2nd place.
In the Event
Exhibitions 143cms WH pony class Phoebe Jennings took the top honours
with last year's winners, Shannon Corbett and Whitemere Jenny Wren as
runners up.
The Blue Frog
153cms class was won for the 2nd year by Kathryn Moore on Toto Matata
with Avril Breen and Bob Marley in 2nd place.
In the Horse
Working Hunter classes the Blackstown Stud 80cms class was won by
Lesley Webb riding Whalton Bengal Tiger.
The Chestnutt
Sashes 90cms class saw Heather Flanagan win the class on Beamish III
with Sophie Kidd and Layla as runners up. Valerie Maxwell, of
Chestnutt Sashes, provided all the sashes for the Festival this year
and daughter Jayne came forward to present Heather with her sash for
the 90cms class.
The M&T
Switchgear 100cms class was won by Jamie Smyth on Welcome Ralph. The
2nd place rosette went to Kerry Harrison on Roddy's Return.
The two
Supreme Championships were the final awards of the evening.
In the Ridden
Supreme Championship the ponies took all the honours. The panel of
judges found their Champion in the Show Pony Section with Eirin
Corbett and Moluccas Moonlight Mace being awarded the C&C Supreme
Champion sash and prize by Valerie Dumigan. The Reserve Champion was
the Intermediate pony champion, Kelly Corbett on Becca Royal Gold
with the Mini Champions, Senateview Angelica and Darcy Curtett taking
the First Reserve Championship Sash.
The
anticipation grew as the highlight of the show drew near for the
judging of the Irwin McGrath Working Hunter Supreme Championship and
the presentation of the £1,000 cheque to the winner.
After
deliberation the panel of judges called out their winners. The First
Reserve Champion title went to the winner of the 1m Horse Working
Hunter class, Jamie Smyth on Welcome Ralph. The Reserve Champion was
the 80cms Horse WH class winner, Lesley Webb on Whalton Bengal Tiger.
Finally the winner of the Festival WH Championship, and of the much
sought after cheque for £1,000, was announced and a delighted
Heather Flanagan was called forward on Beamish III to receive her
prize from Jack Irwin and Paddy McGrath.
The N.I.
Festival was a tremendous success this year with entry numbers far
exceeding expectations. Plans are already underway for an even bigger
and better show in 2008. The success of this show in particular could
not have been possible without the support of all the show sponsors
and all of those people who helped in the run-up to the show and on
the day - thank you!
The website
will continue to be updated with information throughout the year at
www.northernirelandfestival.co.uk. It also has contact numbers for
the official show photographer, Jim Prime, and for Flat Out Media who
video'd the evening performance. Please see the website for their
contact details if you wish to order photographs or a copy of the
official show DVD.
Show Director,
John Irwin, was delighted with the show's success and hopes that many
people who gained Ponies UK qualifiers will make the trip across to
the PUK Summer Champs in August. Should you require any information
on either the PUK Summer Champs or the N.I. Festival please contact
John on 07855 486480.
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