17 November 2022 - Flipbook - Page 74
74
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
OCTOBER 06 2022
High flyers at Ardnacashel Air
O
N the first weekend
in
October,
Ardnacashel
were
proud to hold their
annual charity show
in aid of Air Ambulance NI.
As horse riders, this is a
service we pray we never
need, but one that we are all
thankful exists. The medical
staff on board are highly
trained individuals, who are
providing our community
with first rate care. A special
thank you goes to the
sponsors, Mercedes Truck
and Van Hire NI and H&J
Cairnduff Butchers.
Saturday,
October
1
dawned bright and the car
park was full of chatter, as
the polished, plaited and
primped
ponies
arrived
ready for action. Jonny
Sterritt Pet Photography
and Anna Fredo Black Horse
Photography were on hand
to capture photographic
evidence of all the hard work.
Awaiting the eager children
and ponies were judges
Alistair McDonald and Chloe
Thompson.
First on the winner’s
podium was Ollie Gordon
riding ‘Lacy Milan’ in the
cross-pole working hunter
class, but Ollie wasn’t done
- he went on to take the
Mini Championship. Lewis
McGimpsey
riding
‘Phil’
took top spot in the 50cm
Performance class. The final
class of the mini section
was the 60cm (122cm cradle
stakes) won by Sienna
Savage riding ‘Roxy’; this
combination also secured
their ticket to the Northern
Ireland Festival. Rounding off
her morning, Sienna picked
up the reserve champion
sash and another first place
in the 70cm performance
class! So many sashes on
such a small pony!
Alex
Hemsley
riding
‘Walseker Da’ won the 70cm
(133cm
starter
stakes)
class,
another
fabulous
duo heading to the NIF.
Another familiar name in
CROSS-POLES: Ollie Gordon and ‘Lacy Milan’ on their way
to winning the Cross-pole Working Hunter class at the
Ardnacashel Air Ambulance NI Charity Show. (FW40-542NN)
PICTURES: courtesy of Jonny Sterritt
this section was Poppy Smith
and her own ‘Haywards
Lasting Impression’, who
are currently leading points
winner in the Intro section
in the Ardnacashel Autumn
Dressage League. In the 80cm
performance section, Ella Hill
must have believed in her
pony’s name, ‘Heaven Sent’,
when she took home the
winning sash, while Patrick
McCready needs to pack
his bag for the NIF with his
‘Dunross’ after winning the
80cm (133cm) class.
Class 34, the M&M WH
Pony, was dominated by
a familiar name, Emma
Jackson. Emma took home
both first and second
on ‘Digger’ and ‘Cassie’
respectively, with more to
come from this talented
lady later in the day. After a
quick course adjustment, the
90cm classes began. The NIF
133cm qualifier was won by
Eva McGimpsey, while the
143cm qualifier was won by
Emmalee Turley, who also
bagged the posh-looking
champion sash.
Then came the adorable
part of the day, with the
Tiny Tots Lead Rein class.
Isn’t it fantastic to see these
talented children starting
their equine journey so
young? Myia Latto set the
standard by winning on the
TINY TOTS: Darcy McAvoy and ‘Daisy’ were runners up in the
Tiny Tots Lead Rein class at the Ardnacashel Air Ambulance NI
Charity Show. (FW40-543NN)
50CM PERFORMANCE: Lewis McGimpsey and ‘Phil’ took top
spot in the 50cm Performance class at the Ardnacashel Air
Ambulance NI Charity Show. (FW40-549NN)
aptly named ‘Angel’, which
she also rode to reserve
champion, while in the Lead
Rein pony class, a familiar
name won - Ollie Gordon, this
time with ‘Greendown’. The
class that surely every pony
wants to win, the Family
Pony, went to Jonah Colville
riding ‘Jumping Jack’. The
last class in the mini pony
section was the First Ridden,
where ‘Angel’ won once again
- but this time with a different
sibling, Ella Latto. The Latto
family took home lots of
rosettes and sashes on the
day!
Once again, the unbeatable
Ollie Gordon took home
the champion sash. Two
champion sashes what a
talented young fella!
Tommy Wakfer came in
and obviously impressed
the judges, winning both
the
Newcomers
Ridden
and the Novice Show Pony
with
‘Royalview’,
before
taking reserve champion
in this section. Then Poppy
Smith and her mighty
steed ‘Haywards Lasting
Impression’ took both the
Show Hunter Pony and
the championship. Then
this dynamic duo put the
cherry on the cake, claiming
reserve supreme champion.
Is there anything this duo
aren’t amazing at? Moving
on to the native section, the
Novice Ridden Connemara
was won by Alex Watt riding
‘Mullaghmore Awhain’, whilst
the Open Connemara was
won by Emmalee Turley on
‘Belsa Beag’ and this pair also
took the championship. Alex
Hemsley took the honours
in both the Novice and Open
Small Breed M&M, going on
to take reserve champion.
At this stage, everyone was
hungry and thinking about
the sausages and burgers
from sponsors H&J Cairnduff
Butchers; after a short
interval the in hand classes
began. The standard was
high, high, higher!
Kicking off was that familiar
name,
Emma
Jackson,
winning the Potential Hunter
(1-3) with ‘Taylor’. The
Welsh Pony section (1-3) was
claimed by the scrumptiously
named
‘Caramel
Golden
Titan’, presented by Callum
Griffin - this pair also took
the M&M youngstock class.
The Welsh (4 plus) class was
won by Cheryl Corrie and
‘Pantycoed Takabe’. Colleen
Murtagh
and
‘Ballywire
Princess’ won the Young
Connemara class.
The
Coloured
section
(Age 1-3) was claimed by
‘Slievenamoney Sugar Rush’,
presented by Alice Reville;
while the Age 4 plus section
was taken by Amy Hannah
with ‘Daddy Cool’. The
Miniature section was split
between mares, won by Stella
Black and ‘Tanzanite Black
Magic’ and geldings/ stallions,
won by Ben Swanson and
‘Glenhollow
Twinkletoes’.
These ponies were just so
gorgeous that the children
grouped together to ‘borrow’
one and give it a first class
tour of the show. Hopefully
they remembered to give the
pony back at the end of the
day...
The last class of the day
was the Traditional Cob, with
Moorestown Equine Services
winning with ‘The Master
Piece’, who really is every
inch a masterpiece, taking
the champion and supreme
champion honours.
HORSES
On day two of the Air
Ambulance NI charity show,
the competitors were there
early and ready for action.
Before that, the staff at
Ardnacashel were levelling
arenas, checking jumps and
most importantly putting
the kettle on, ready to greet
everyone with a smile as they
arrived. Arriving bright and
breezy was judge Richard
Wilson, who travelled from
Ballymoney to be there.
The show was a particularly
close one to Richard’s
heart, as he is currently a
student paramedic and so
understands the importance
of the Air Ambulance more
than most. Richard is an
experienced WH judge and
freelance
coach,
having
recently
launched
his
business ‘Richard Wilson
Freelance Coaching’.
The
morning
was
dominated by the talented
Victorias. Victoria McCurdy
riding ‘Temple Bui’ won both
the 60cm and 70cm Amateur
Working Hunter classes.
Later, Victoria Moffett won
the 80cm Amateur and 80cm
NIF qualifier on her mount
WELSH YOUNGSTOCK: Callum Griffin and ‘Caramel Golden
Titan’ won the Welsh Youngstock class at the Ardnacashel Air
Ambulance NI Charity Show. (FW40-545NN)
GREAT DAY: Poppy Smith and ‘Haywards Lasting Impression’
had a great day at the Ardnacashel Air Ambulance NI Charity
Show, winning the Show Hunter Pony class and championship
and taking Reserve Supreme Champion. (FW40-541NN)
‘Homegrown Beatrix’, going
on to take reserve champion.
The ‘Homegrown’ in her
name being more than just
a word - Victoria bred this
beautiful mare, out of her
previous ride ‘Queens Gate’,
who the family lost recently.
They are delighted to have
‘B’ to carry on the line. The
mare was backed for them
by fellow competitor Emma
Jackson. Other classes in the
80cm section included the
Performance Working Hunter
won by Rebecca Murdock on
‘Animation’; the Irish Draught,
Lorna Coffey and ‘Edenagor’
and, in Racehorse to Riding
Horse, Rachel Conn won with
her mount ‘Ned Stark’.
The 90cm section kicked
off with the Smalls, won by
Ellie McDowell, remember
that name, on her first ride
of the day ‘Donnard Con’ affectionately referred to as
‘Conman’ at home. Charlotte
Harding and Emma Jackson
battled it out in the 90cm
NIF qualifier classes, with
Charlotte just pipping Emma
to the post both times.
Another familiar face in the
90cm class was ‘Goariva
Touch Stone’, the beautiful
dun gelding, who rider
Richard Truesdale managed
to wrestle from his daughter
Vicki, who is a regular at
the Wednesday night show
jumping.
Remember
that
name,
Ellie McDowell? Well, this
talented 14-year-old steered
her second mount ‘Rosarib
Ladybird’ to victory in
the 1.10m NIF qualifier.
‘Ladybird’, also known as
‘Betty’, is a nine-year-old
that, according to Ellie, loves
to jump! Ellie rides the mare
for her granny, Violet, who
was on site lending a hand
and supporting. What a
proud moment when the pair
took the Champion Working
Hunter title! Ellie wasn’t
finished yet though, clearly
deciding she didn’t have
enough sashes and rosettes
and that there is always room
for more, she saddled up
her third ride of the day, ‘It’s
the Kings Speech’ and won
the middle/ heavyweight,
came second in the Ladies
Hunter and took yet another
championship for the Hunter
section - WOW! And yes, you
guessed it, this pair went on
to win Supreme Champion
Working Hunter and Show
Horse.
Of course, you can only win
so many classes by preparing
and training your horse
correctly at home. Something
that judge Camilla Galloway
knows all about. Camilla
has competed at multiple
disciplines since she was
young -eventing, dressage
and showing. With her yard
based at her parents house
in
Downpatrick,
Camilla
knows all about correct
training of a young horse,
setting the animal up for life.
She commented on the high
standard of horse and rider
at the Ardnacashel Show. Not
a lady to be defined by one
skill, Camilla also works as a
driving instructor, qualified
in both car and truck
instructing.
Another lady showing her
flair at the show was Julie
Donaghy Simpson, who won
the Ladies Hunter on ‘He’s
The Lad’ and took reserve
champion on the same ride.
On her second ride, she then
took the Racehorse to Riding
Horse class with ‘Balella to
Milan’; this pair went on to
win Champion and Reserve
Supreme Champion.
The Amateur Show Horse
and the cob (up to 155cm)
was won by Kerry Dickson
riding ‘A Stolen Star’. The
Newcomers was won by
Lorna Coffey on ‘Dolce’ and
the Small Hunter by Lindsey
Kirk riding ‘Rockrimmon
Willow’. The maxi cob saw
Julie Owens in top spot with
‘Kilmihill Bess’, going on
PLACED: Bea Browne and ‘Darty Ranger’ took third place in
the 133cm NIF Qualifier at the Ardnacashel Air Ambulance NI
Charity Show. (FW40-548NN)
