RECAP: The Irish Breeder’s Classic and TRM/HSI New Heights Champion Series winners

Francis Murray General September 13, 2018

Irish Horse Gateway, established by Horse Sport Ireland to connect the world to the Irish horse, was once again delighted to be associated with this year’s Irish Breeder’s Classic.

New Heights Champions Series

The event took place at Barnadown Equestrian Centre, County Wexford, and proved hugely successful. The final leg of the New Heights Champion Series, sponsored by TRM and HSI took place on Sunday September 2^nd. Capt. Geoff Curran and Ringwood Glen (ISH) (owned by the Minster of Defence) won the final leg with a clear round of 43.93 seconds in the jump off. Second place went to Francis Connors riding the Hugh Fitzpatrick own & bred Erne Goldilocks (ISH). Greg Broderick, of Ballypatrick Stables, with Duco (KWPN) (owned by Mary Ellen De Ruschi), finished third on the day, with a clear round in 48.68 seconds. This was enough to claim Overall Champion of the New Heights Champions Series for 2018. Second place in the league went to Darragh Ryan, riding Rincoola Rua (ISH), owned by Alexander Butler and bred by Harold McGahern. Susan Fitzpatrick and Fellow Castlefield (KWPN), placed 4^th on the day, received the highest placed young rider award.

Greg Broderick receives the overall first prize in the New Heights Champion Series, presented by Ronan Murphy, C.E.O of Horse Sport Ireland with Ray Buchanan, Chairman of Showjumping Ireland and Larry Masterson, Chief Operating Officer for TRM.

The leading breeder’s prize went to Harold McGahern with Rincoola Rua (ISH), second place went to Hugh Fitzpatrick with Erne LadyGoldilocks (ISH) and third place was taken by John McCann with Gelvins Touch (ISH). Harold McGahern is based at Rincoola, Granard, Co Longford and has bred a number of competitive horses previously, including Will Wimble (ISH), who won the Lummen Grand Prix in Belgium 2012, the CSI2* Balmoral Grand Prix in 2013 and the Millstreet CSI3* Grand Prix in 2014 with Alexander Butler among other achievements. Hugh Fitzpatrick is based in Cavan, and has bred many showjumping horses including Erne Touch (ISH) and Erne Cruising Breeze (ISH). John McCann is based in Roscommon and is also a successful breeder of showjumpers including Hollypark Galloway (ISH). Gelvin’s Touch (ISH) also recently competed under Dermott Lennon at the Canadian Nation’s Cup at Spruce Meadows helping the Irish team into third place.

Capt.Geoff Curran finishes in first place in the New Heights Champion Series on the day, award presented by Larry Masterson, Chief Operating Officer of TRM, Ronan Murphy, C.E.O of Horse Sport Ireland, ­­­­Lt. Col. Tom Freyne and Ray Buchanan, Chairman of Showjumping Ireland.

Francis Connors receiving the prize for second place on the day, presented by Ronan Murphy, C.E.O of Horse Sport Ireland, Larry Masterson, Chief Operating Officer of TRM and Ray Buchanan, Chairman of Showjumping Ireland.

Seven and Eight-Year-Old Irish Championship Final

On Saturday September 1^st the seven and eight-year-old championship final had 20 combinations set to start, with 13 clears in the first round and progressing through to the second round. Total prize fund for this class was €8,500. Only four combinations went clear in the second round with Jack Ryan and Essenar High Hopes (OLD) coming out on top with a time of 38.45 seconds. The 2011 gelding, bred by Arnd Deters and owned by Ann Marie Fagan, is by Phin Phin (BWP) and out of Leni-Jo (OS). The pair have competed successfully at 1.30m, 1.40m and 1.45m.

Second place through fourth – the remaining clear second rounds – went to Irish Sport Horses. In second place was James Hogg with Intuitive (ISH) in a time of 40.56 seconds; third was Mark Finnerty with All Action (ISH) in 41.38 seconds, and in fourth was Tim MacDonagh and Hollypark Boom Boom (ISH) in a time of 42.76 seconds.

James Hogg and Intuitive (ISH) won the seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse Studbook Series back in May of this year which also took place at Barnadown. Intuitive (ISH), owned and bred by Edgar Hogg, is a 2011 gelding by Beach Ball (ISH), out of Sandiamo (AES) by Andiamo Z (NRPS). Edgar also produced other successful jumpers out of Sandiamo (AES) including Always On My Mind (ISH), a 2007 Grand Prix gelding by ARD VDL Douglas which has jumped with James Hogg up to 1.45m.

All Action (ISH) is a 2011 gelding by Askoll Peter Pan (OLD) and out of Ballykean Judy (ISH) by Touchdown (ISH), owned and bred by Rory Finnerty based in Wicklow. Mark Finnerty and All Action (ISH) competed in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Series coming fourth in the six-year-old final at Tattersalls Ireland in July 2017, and the pair also came first in the Young Riders 1.25m-1.30m class at the Dublin Horse Show this year.

Tim MacDonagh from Galway is the owner and rider of Hollypark Boom Boom (ISH), a 2011 gelding by Heritage Fortunus (HANN) out of HHS Diamond Exchange (ISH) by Ramiro B (BWP). The pair came third in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Series in Galway in August of this year, and came sixth in the Irish Breeder’s Classic five and six-year old final in September last year. The gelding was bred by Clare Hughes based in Co Kilkenny, renowned breeder of racehorses and jumping horses in association with Hughes Horse Stud.

Five and Six-Year-Old Irish Breeders Classic Final             

On Sunday September 2^nd, the five and six-year-old championship grand final took place, with 25 combinations declared. Thirteen combinations went clear in the first round to qualify for the second round, and six of those went double clear. Total prize fund for this class was €33,000 with €3,000 distributed evenly between 11^th – 25^th place, and €2,000 between the breeders of the top 10 placed horses. In first place, with an impressive time of 39.92 seconds was Jack Ryan with the six-year-old BBS McGregor (ISH), a 2012 gelding by VDL Cardento (HOLST) out of Random Chance (ISH) by Mark Twain XX (TB). The gelding is bred and owned by Marguerite Ryan and ridden by Jack Ryan – the pair competed in the 1.30m six-year-old National Championship at the Dublin Horse Show 2018 coming sixth, and came fourth in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Series at Barnadown in May of this year.

Jack Ryan on BBS MgGregor receives first place prize for the six-year-old class with Marguerite Ryan (owner) and Ronan Murphy, C.E.O of Horse Sport Ireland.

In second place was Ger O’Neill riding the five-year-old Traditional Irish Sport Horse Dawson’s Flex (ISH)[TIH], a 2013 gelding by Flex A Bill (ISH)[TIH] out of Carnalway Gold (RID) by Kildalton Gold (ID). Dawson’s Flex (ISH) jumped under David Moran at the Dublin Horse Show this year in the 1.20m class for five-year-olds, and at the Irish Breeder’s Classic at Barnadown in 2017 the pair came fourth in the four-year-old class. Dawson’s Flex (ISH) is owned by KM Sporthorses, and was bred by Victor Bennett who is based in Co Wicklow. He has bred a number of show jumpers including Cruisemeister (ISH).

Third place went to the six-year-old HHS Catwalk (ISH) ridden by Michael Pender, owned by Marion Hughes and bred by Thomas A Hughes of Hughes Horse Stud, Co Kilkenny. HHS Catwalk (ISH) is a 2012 mare by Cit Cat (HOLST) out of HHS Clo Jo (ISH) by Clover Echo (ISH)[TIH]. The mare competed under Michael in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Series final at Mullingar International Horse Show, and in the Irish Breeder’s Classic final at Barnadown last year. HHS Catwalk (ISH) has jumped under Susan Fitzpatrick in the Mullingar National Grand Prix Show at 1.30m, and the pair came fifth in the 1.20m Leinster Summer Championship at the Tattersalls Ward Union Summer Show in July this year. Hughes Horse Stud has produced a huge number of Show Jumping horses including HHS Cashmere (ISH), a 1999 mare who competed up to 1.45m with Marion Hughes.

Four-Year-Old Championship Final

Also on Sunday, the four-year-old championship final took place with 26 combinations declared. Twenty-five combinations jumped, and fourteen combinations went clear. The prize money for this class was €3,400 which was distributed evenly between all horses who incurred zero penalties in the final round, and a €300 bonus was awarded to the horse on lowest penalties judged to have most future potential. Bonuses of €200 and €100 were awarded to the second and third placed horses on lowest penalties judged to have the most future potential respectively.

The first placed horse in this case was Coachella (ISH), a 2014 mare by Ustinov (KWPN) out of Icing (ISH) by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. The mare was bred by Tom and Linda Magee based in Armagh, and is owned by Catherine Thornton and David Campbell. She was ridden by Catherine Thompson and achieved a clear round in 80.5 seconds. The pair have won a number of 1m classes since the beginning of the season this year, and competed in the four-year-old class at the Dublin Horse Show this year. Tom and Linda Magee also bred Derryinver Luxury Cruise (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN) out of Icing (ISH) who has competed up to 1.45m level, and Condor Z by Cobra (HOLST) out of Icing (ISH) who has competed up to 1.30m.

Second placed horse was GCS Ita (ISH), a 2014 mare by OBOS Quality (OLD) out of MHS Attraction (ISH) by Numero Uno (KWPN). Bred and owned by Tim Brennan and ridden by Vincent Byrne, the pair jumped a clear round in 77.86 seconds. Vincent and GCS Ita (ISH) competed in the four year old class at the Dublin Horse Show this year, and came first in the 1m Barnadown Summer League this year. Tim Brennan is based at Mill House Stud in Co Kilkenny and has bred many top level show jumpers, including MHS Going Global (ISH) who has jumped under Greg Broderick, winning the Aga Khan Trophy in 2016, and competing at the Regional Championships at Aachen, Germany in 2015 and the Olympic Games in Rio 2016.

Third place went to Dawson’s Orestes (ISH), a 2014 mare by Orestus (KWPN) out of Creevy Quinn Lass (ISH) by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Ridden by Ger O’Neill, bred by Peter Killeen of Co Roscommon and owned by KM Sporthorses, the mare competed in the Dublin Horse Show four-year-old qualifiers, and in the Barnadown Showjumping Spring and Summer leagues this year, coming first in the Summer league.

Details of the Irish Sport Horses at the Irish Breeder’s Classic mentioned in the article are below:

All Action (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Askoll Peter Pan (OLD) out of Ballykean Judy (ISH) by Touchdown (ISH). Bred by Rory Finnerty, Co Wicklow.

BBS McGregor (ISH) – 2012 gelding by VDL Cardento (HOLST) out of Random Chance (ISH) by Mark Twain XX (TB). Bred by Marguerite Ryan, Co Kilkenny.

Coachella (ISH) – 2014 mare by Ustinov (KWPN) out of Icing (ISH) by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Bred by Tom and Linda Magee, Co Armagh.

Dawson’s Flex (ISH)[TIH] – 2013 gelding by Flex A Bill (ISH)[TIH] out of Carnalway Gold (RID) by Kildalton Gold (ID). Bred by Victor Bennett, Co Wicklow.

Dawson’s Orestes (ISH) – 2014 mare by Orestus (KWPN) out of Creevy Quinn Lass (ISH) by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Bred by Peter Killeen, Co Roscommon.

Erne LadyGoldilocks (ISH) – 2007 mare by ARD VDL Douglas (KWPN) out of Erne Touch (ISH). Bred by Hugh Fitzpatrick, Co Cavan.

GCS Ita (ISH) – 2014 mare by OBOS Quality (OLD) out of MHS Attraction (ISH) by Numero Uno (KWPN). Bred by Tim Brennan, Co Kilkenny

Gelvins Touch (ISH) – 2006 gelding by Touchdown (ISH) out of Whitestown Diamond (ISH)[TIH] by Diamond Lad (IDH). Bred by John McCann, Co Roscommon.

HHS Catwalk (ISH) – 2012 mare by Cit Cat (HOLST) out of HHS Clo Jo (ISH) by Clover Echo (ISH)[TIH]. Bred by Thomas A Hughes, Co Kilkenny.

Hollypark Boom Boom (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Heritage Fortunus (HANN) out of HHS Diamond Exchange (ISH) by Ramiro B (BWP). Bred by Clare Hughes, Co Kilkenny.

Intuitive (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Beach Ball (ISH) out of Sandiamo (AES) by Andiamo Z (NRPS). Bred by Edgar Hogg, Co Fermanagh.

Mulvin Lui (ISH) – 2010 gelding by Luidam (KWPN) out of Castleconnor Baron (ISH) by Baron De Chantepie (SF). Bred by Vincent Loftus, Co Kildare.

Rincoola Rua (ISH) – 2007 mare by Diamant de Semilly (SF) out of Rincoola Abu (ISH)[TIH] by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Bred by Harold McGahern, Co Longford.

Ringwood Glen (ISH) – 2004 gelding by VDL Arkansas (KWPN) out of Penny Royale (ISH) by Kinglass Pennistone (ISH). Bred by Ringwood Stud, Co Limerick.