16th National Show, Necarne Castle, Irvinestown

Saturday 28 July, 2001

Nancy Steele's the Show

The 16^th National Irish Draught Show on Saturday 28 July at Necarne Castle, Irvinestown, Co Fermangh, was a tribute to the resolve of the Northern Ireland Branch of the Irish Draught Horse Society (IDHS) who were determined to provide something positive for Irish Draught enthusiasts in this difficult year.

Classes were well filled and there was plenty of interest with former champions returning to defend their titles and plenty of new faces adding to the interest. Last year's youngstock and supreme champion, Eddie Murphy's 3 year old Lady in Red took the first class of the day, which was for young stinted RID mares, ahead of Mary McGrath's 5 year old Rosetown Annie, last year's performance champion. Nancy Steele was beautifully produced by Suzanne Finlay to take the stinted class for older mares and took all before her to win the Broodmare Championship and the Supreme Champion of the show. Nancy Steele is no stranger to the winners enclosure, having had considerable success as a young horse. The reserve champion broodmare was found in Peter McHugh's Robeen Lass, a 7 year old, one of the small number of mares to have a half bred foal at foot.

Judges, Mrs Caroline Saynor and Mr John Joyce found their winner of the class for young mares with foal at foot in Helen and Christopher Kelly's Derrynagarra Clorin who was also a winner from last year. Mares over 15 years were scarce, but the condition of Valerie Patterson's 22 year old Hillcrest Grey Dawn was a tribute her owner. Appendix mare Turlough Star owned by Geraldine Huey was also an elder lady of the day at 22 years. The honours in this class went to Vi Coulter's Kilcommon Lass. Appendix mares have made a significant contribution to the breeding of Irish Draughts over the years but with the closing of the register the number of Appendix mare reduces each year.

In well filled pure bred foal classes, the winning colt was Coile Mor Hill's sole representative at the show out of David and Lorraine Murphy's young mare, Crookedwood Viking. Pat Reaney's consistent breeder Miss R produced the winning filly foal by Dunkerrin Grey Mist. This full sister of last year's foal champion went on take the honours this year, pushed all the way by Charlotte and Nigel Moore's Crosstown Dancer filly out of Tullys Triumph who has produced so many winners in show ring and competition arenas.

A new feature of the show was the £2000 Strongid Irish Draught Mare of the Future sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health. This innovative class is for 3 and 4 year old mares which were registered as RID last year and with foal at foot by or covered by an RID stallion. Judges Mrs Ellen Walton and Mr George Chapman had no hesitation in picking their winner, Eddie Murphy's Lady in Red. Taking the reserve award was Vi Coulter's Millhollow Starlet bred by Moira McKenna, and in third place was David and Lorraine Murphy's Crookedwood Rebel. Full marks to Pfizer for supporting this class which was to have run with a series of qualifiers throughout Ireland. Had this been possible it may have increased the number of entries from the twelve catalogued.

With large entries in the youngstock classes, Mrs Caroline Collinsplatt and Mr John Butler were kept busy all day. Winner in the yearling colt or gelding class was Patrick O'Kane's Harvey Hill Prince by Huntingfield Rebel out of Brian McAuley's Dunadry Lady who stood reserve all-Ireland Champion to My Hilltop Lady on two occasions. Timothy Wilson's Parkmore Pride filly who had won the filly foal class last year has to be content with second behind Jim Stewart's Follyglen Express by Carrabawn View which he purchased from breeder Eddie Murphy at the National Irish Draught Sale in Cavan last year.

Patrick Gillan, who produces so many colts took first and third in the two year old class, winning with a son of Crosstown Dancer. Denis Dullea made the long trip from Co Cork worthwhile by winning both the two and three year old filly classes with homebred stock.. The two year old, Killountain Pearl by Crannagh Hero, beat Mr and Mrs Ivan Adams' reserve champion from last year into second place. It was the three year old, Killountain Heather, also by Crannagh Hero, who went on to capture the Fermangh District Council sponsored Young Horse Championship. Follyglen Express was reserve champion.

Patrick Moyles son of Mootpoint scored in half bred colt foals and Helen Troughton's daughter of her own Present Arms won the filly foal class.

Quality rather than quantity was the feature of the Farmlay Eggs Stallion Exhibition. Always popular with spectators, it can't be easy for stallion owners to bring out their horses at this stage in the season. The four presented were a credit to their owners - Helen Troughton's The Bard, Suma Stud's Huntingfield Rebel, Fintan Brannigan's Crosstown Dancer and Edwin McLoughlin's Supreme Ginger. Interestingly, these horses were all entered in the performance classes. Girth galls prevented The Bard from participating but the others all gave a great account of themselves.

Hunters in the Northern Ireland Horse Board sponsored classes rode well for judges Mrs Lyn Williams and Mr Denis McCauley. The stallions made it their day. The pure bred ridden hunter class was won by Suma Stud's Huntingfield Rebel and second place was taken by Fintan Branigan's Crosstown Dancer, ridden by Stephen Branigan. This pair went on to stand Champion and Reserve for the Northern Ireland Horse Board Performance Championship. The other winning stallion was Edwin McLoughlin's recently approved Supreme Ginger who won the working hunter class.

Simone Hession, the very successful young rider from Sligo, made the Ballinteggart Stud dressage section all her own by winning the preliminary class on Beezies Iris Fiobhia, also winner of the half bred ridden hunter class, and taking the first three places in the open dressage class. Mrs Lana Dunlop judged the dressage section.

The venue was superb with well-presented arenas, plenty of stabling in the beautifully restored courtyard and excellent facilities for the public. The Northern Ireland Branch of the IDHS have delivered two excellent shows and the responsibility for next year's show will now pass on to another branch.

Intervet UK Ltd RID Mare 6 years and under stinted

1 Eddie Murphy's Lady in Red 3yo by Grosvenor Lad ex Ginger Grace bd Exh 2 Mary McGrath's Rosetown Annie 5yo by Crosstown Dancer ex Crosstown Jewel bd Fintan Brannigan 3 Robert Fitzhenry's Leonsgarve Ruby 4yo by Rakish Paddy ex Red Ruby bd Exh 4 T G Judge's Steeple View 4yo by Agherlow ex Ginger Sheila bd L & J Lucas

Tullyroe Stud RID Mare 7 to 14 years stinted

1 Suzanne Finlay's Nancy Steele 7yo by Holycross ex White Church Sal bd P Hegarty 2 Rufina & Paul Shiel Mullen's Princess Dawn 10yo by Grey Macha Drumlin Princess bd Francis Dunne 3 V Scott's Harvest Dawn 7yo by Annaghdown Star ex Moyralla Lady bd Exh 4 George Draper's Ballincross Sophie 8yo by Holycross ex Luck Jane bd R O'Hanrahan

Shanaghan Stud, W & E Skelly RID Mare 15 years and over with or without foal at foot

1 Valerie Patterson's Hillcrest Grey Dawn 22yo by Knocknagow ex Kilmore Star bd Jack McKinley

Shamrock Stud RID Mare 3 to 6 years with foal at foot

1 Helen & Christopher Kellly's Derrynagarra Clorin 5yo by Crosstown Dancer ex Banks Fee Annabel bd Exh 2 Vi Coulter's Millhollow Starlet 4yo by Annaghdown Star ex Roma Blue Wind bd Moira McKenna 3 Patrick Moyles' November Rain 5yo by Holycross ex Saggarts Millie bd Pat Gleeson 4 David & Loraine Murphy's Crookedwood Rebel 4yo by Glenagyle Rebel ex Sumas Disco bd Susan Lanigan O'Keefe

Merial RID Mare 7 to 14 years with foal at foot

1 Peter McHugh's Robeen Lass 7yo by Glenagyle Rebel ex Westfield Lass bd Exh 2 Malachy Marron's 'Adastra' Corcrin Crest 7yo by Seacrest ex Creggan Rose bd Rose Byrne 3 Diane Cameron's My Hilltop Lady 9yo by Western Light ex April Storm bd Charlotte Moore 4 Chantal Deon's Brehan's Pride 12yo by Pride of Toames ex Brehan's Lass bd Exh

Vi & Colin Coulter ID Colt Foal

1 David & Loraine Murphy's Crookedwood Viking by Coille Mor Hill ex Crookedwood Rebel 2 Malachy Marron's 'Adastra' Sea Crossing by Holycross ex 'Adastra' Corcrin Crest 3 Robert R Davis' by Corran Ginger ex Levaghy Blue 4 Diane Camerson's Ballywildrick Maharajah by Blue Rajah ex My Hilltop Lady

Ulster Bank ID Filly Foal

1 Pat Reaney's by Dunkerrin Grey Mist ex Miss R 2 N & C Moore's Tullyvalley by Crosstown Dancer ex Tullys Triumph 3 Chantal Deon's Any Way by Grosvenor Lad ex Brehon's Pride 4 Michael Jennings by Grey Macha ex Ballygarris Diamond

Reserve Champion ID Foal - N & C Moore's Tullyvalley

Sponsored by: Pfizer Animal Health

1 Eddie Murphy's Lady in Red 3yo by Grosvenor Lad ex Ginger Grace bd Exh 2 Vi Coulter's Millhollow Starlet 4yo by Annaghdown Star ex Roma Blue Wind bd Moira McKenna 3 David & Lorainne Murphy's Crookedwood Rebel by Glenagyle Rebel ex Sumas Disco bd Susan Lannigan O'Keefe 4 Edward Corbett's Liscallen Countess 3yo by Grey Macha ex Third Lady bd Owen Griffen

Wyse Byes ID Gelding 3 year and upwards

1 Mary McGrath's Rosetown Hero 7yo by Glenagyle Rebel ex Milkweed bd Exh 2 Sarah Hatton's Balrath Rebel 3yo by Huntingfield Rebel ex Teach Mhic Chonaill bd Cecillia Borland

Young Stock

Millhollow Stud Yearling Colt or Gelding

1 Patrick O'Kane's Harvey Hill Prince by Huntingfield Rebel ex Dunadry Lady bd Brian McAuley 2 Glen Knipe's Laurelview Dancer by Crosstown Dancer ex Inion Grey Macha bd Heemskerk Irl Ltd 3 John J Willis' Pride of Erne by Huntingfield Rebel ex Oh Carol bd Luke Morley 4 Cecil Bunting's Pride of Ballyfarnon by Red Hackle ex Moylough Rose bd John Sherrin

Michael Keane Yearling Filly

1 J H Stewart's Follyglen Express by Carrabawn View ex Bulkane Lass bd Eddie Murphy 2 Timothy Wilson's by Parkmore Pride ex Sly Mist bd Exh 3 Eddie Murphy's Miss Carrabawn Grace by Carrabawn View ex Ginger Grace bd Exh 4 Padraig Fitzpatrick's by Grosvenor Lad ex Mayos Pride bd Tommy Bennett

Ulster Farmers Mart Two year old Colt or Gelding

1 Patrick Gillan's by Crosstown Dancer ex Killeen Fire bd James Boyle 2 Gerard Murray's by Powerswood Purple ex Gingers Pride bd Exh 3 Patrick Gillan's by Sandyhill Boy ex Enniskeane Primrose bd William Cotter

Abbeyleix ID Stud (USA) Frank and Kitty Olivitto Two year old Filly

1 Denis Dullea's Killountain Pearl by Crannagh Hero ex Killountain Diamond bd Exh 2 Mr & Mrs Ivan Adam's Loguestown Roseanna by Moorpark Boy ex Loguestown Sea Rose bd Exh 3 N & C Moore's Tullys Colleen by Crosstown Dancer ex Tullys Triumph bd Exh 4 Edward Corbett's Last Mochanin by Moorpark Boy ex Colleen Donn bd Gerard Young

James Stewart & Sons, Longcase Clocks Three year old filly

1 Denis Dullea's Killountain Heather by Crannagh Hero ex Loch Lein bd Exh 2 Anthony & Deirdre Owens' Annaghmore Lady by Uibh Fhaili '81 ex Monea More bd Daniel Borland 3 Kay Blackwell-Brazil's Glann Ivy by Uibh Fhaili '81 ex Lissyegan Silver bd Thomas Mooney 4 Mary McGrath's Rosetown Legend by Blue Rajah ex Sumas Folklore bd Exh

Farmlay Eggs Stallion Exhibition

Not judged - Helen Troughton's The Bard Suma Stud's Huntingfield Rebel Fintan Brannigan's Crosstown Dancer Edwin McLoughlin's Supreme Ginger

Brady Farm Supplies Half bred Colt Foal

1 Peter McHugh's by Appraisal ex Robeen Lass 2 Patrick Moyles' by Mootpoint ex November Rain 3 Laura Snow's Casanova by Cougar ex Grey Diamond Dawn

Allens Honda Half bred Filly Foal

1 Helen Troughton's by Present Arms ex Tattymacall Girl 2 Sean Colhoun's by Florida Son ex Urney Pride

Scotts Feeds Appendix mare

1 Vi Coulter's Kilcommon Lass 11yo by Grey Mach ex Kiltoom Moll bd John Keon 2 Geraldine Huey's Turlough Star 22 yo by Atlantic Boy ex Bay Star bd Dan Furey

Northern Ireland Horse Board Ridden Hunter, half bred

1 Simone Hession's Beezies Iris Fiobhia 6yo m by Ard Alley Cat ex Princess of Woodlands bd A & J Hession 2 Mrs D McCoy's Silver Pebbles 8yo m by Copper King ex Croagh Ross Lady bd D Gallagher

Northern Ireland Horse Board Ridden Hunter, pure bred Irish Draught

1 Suma Stud's Huntingfield Rebel 11yo s by Glenagyle Rebel ex Brosna Queen bd Exh 2 Fintan Brannigan's Crosstown Dancer 11 yo s by Flagmount Diamond ex Tara Sky bd Exh 3 John Winder's Eden Ginger 11yo g by Ginger Dick ex Swinford Girl bd James McNicholas 4 Kieran McKay's Cushleake Clover 4yo s by Clover Hill ex Annadale Lass bd Martin McGlynn

Best 4 year old Cushleake Clover

Northern Ireland Horse Board Working Hunter

1 Edwin McLoughlin's Supreme Ginger 6yo s by Ginger Dick ex Anne Diamond bd Exh 2 John Winder's Eden Ginger 3 Tracy Andrew's Mr Sharma 9yo g by Evros ex Lisnagrieve Star bd Michael Farnan

Ballinteggart Stud Dressage Prelimary BHS 6

1 Simone Hession's Beezies Iris Fiobhia 2 Fintan Brannigan's Crosstown Dancer

Ballinteggart Stud Dressage Open

1 Simone Hession's Beezies Sue 8yo m by Seacrest ex Princess of Woodlands bd A & J Hession 2 Simone Hession's Beezies Iris Fiobhia 3 Simone Hession's Beezies Sue 4 Nick Brannif's Comet 5yo s by Carrabawn View ex Orla bd Mary Doherty

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