21th October 2021 - Flipbook - Page 93
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
DECEMBER 02 2021
93
HSI to sponsor Affiliate Combined
Training Challenge 2022
H
ORSE Sport Ireland (HSI)
are once again delighted
to be sponsoring the HSI
Affiliate Combined Training
Challenge in the Spring
of 2022, run by Eventing Ireland.
Following on from the success of
previous years’ sponsorship of
Combined Training Leagues and off
the back of the positive HSI Autumn
Development Series in 2021, this
initiative is crucial to the beginning
of a successful competition season
and the production and training of
young horses in Ireland.
The HSI Affiliate Combined
Training
Challenge
aims
to
encourage members of all HSI
affiliates to compete at levels to suit
their abilities, and to encourage the
use of correct training on the flat
and jumping. Qualifiers are open
to all Horse Sport Ireland affiliate
members,
including
Eventing
Ireland, Dressage Ireland, Show
jumping Ireland, Irish Pony Club,
Irish Pony Society and Riding Clubs
(please see full list of HSI affiliates
at
www.horsesportireland.ie/
about/ affiliates). All athletes must
be a member of one affiliate at the
time of entry. Horses/ ponies may
compete on a day registration.
This HSI Affiliate Combined
Training Challenge will fall under
Eventing Ireland rules and will cover
the three disciplines of eventing,
and incorporating, where possible,
some cross-country fences. Prize
money will be on offer for every
class in every qualifier, including
the final.
Speaking about the announcement
of the upcoming HSI Affiliate
By Shaun O’Dea
T
HE Down Royal
Festival last month
most
definitely
pointed and showcased
future jump stars. The
French import ‘Fil Dor’
made a winning debut
for trainer Gordon Elliott
at the meeting and duly
followed up, with Davy
Russell aboard, when
beating ‘Lunar Power’
(owned by the Belfast
based Hunt family) and
registering an excellent
effort to score at Grade
3 level at Fairyhouse’s
flagship day of jump
racing on Sunday, with
all races sponsored
by
Newry’s
Barney
O’Hare’s Bar One Racing
Bookmaking operation.
Elliott
advised
the
Christmas meeting at
Leopardstown
could
be the next target
depending on ground
conditions.
Trainer Noel Meade’s
top
class
hurdler,
‘Beacon Edge’, with Denis
O’Regan booked, had to
settle for second on his
debut in the Beginners
Chase at the Maze, but
reversed placing with
the winner, ‘Lifetime
Ambition’
(finished
fourth) when tackling
Grade 1 company in the
Drinmore Novice Chase.
Meade said: “You’d
have to think three
miles is his trip and
the three-mile race at
Leopardstown
over
CoilÓg, in March.”
A spokesperson on behalf of
Eventing
Ireland
commented:
“Eventing Ireland is delighted to
be hosting this Combined Training
League on behalf of the affiliates.
This is a great opportunity for
members of all disciplines to
experience the thrills of dressage
and jumping in one day against their
peers and a league makes it all the
more exciting.”
DATES
THE dates for the 2022 Horse
Sport Ireland Affiliate Combined
Training Challenge are as
follows:
CHALLENGE: Michael McNally competing in the HSI Arena Eventing. The HSI Affiliate Combined Training Challenge
will be held in the Spring of 2022, run by Eventing Ireland. (FW48-516NN)
PICTURE: courtesy of Tori OC Photography
Combined
Training
Challenge,
Acting
CEO
Joe
Reynolds
commented: “Horse Sport Ireland
are once again delighted to be
sponsoring
the
HSI
Affiliate
Combined Training Challenge. The
series proved extremely successful
in 2018 and 2019. Following on from
the difficulties posed to running
competitions over 2020 and in the
beginning of 2021, we are delighted
to provide this opportunity to
the industry to get their best foot
forward to a successful competition
season in 2022. We look forward
to seeing our affiliated athletes
competing early in the season and
watching them take on the final in
Saturday, January 29 - The
Meadows (Northern Region)
Sunday, February 13 - Milchem
(Western Region)
Sunday, February 13 - Wexford
(Leinster Region)
Saturday,
February
19
Barnadown (Leinster Region)
Saturday, February 26 - The
Meadows (Northern Region)
Sunday, February 27 - Roscrea
(Munster Region)
Sunday, March 6 - Claremorris
(Western Region)
Sunday, March 13 - CoilÓg
Equestrian Centre (Leinster
Region)
All rules, regulations and
entries are available on the
Eventing Ireland website: www.
eventingireland.com
Down Royal Festival pointed to the stars
TRAINER: Right,
Banbridge trainer, Gerry
Cosgrave, who taught
‘Honeysuckle’ her trade
initially and continues
to produce future stars.
(FW48-520SO)
UNBEATEN: Champion Hurdler ‘Honeysuckle’ took her unbeaten run to 14
victories in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, landing the £100,000 race for the
third time for new connections, but was originally produced by Banbridge trainer,
Gerry Cosgrave and partnered by owner top local rider, Mark O’Hare to success in
her point to point victory, prior to her sale to trainer Henry De Bromhead.
(FW48-519SO)
Christmas is the obvious
next race for him.”
Fitted with a first-time
tongue tie, the Henry
de Bromhead trained
‘Gua Du Large’ (25/1),
having been pulled up
two out in the feature
hurdle at Down Royal
Festival, was another
to score in a photo
finish beating ‘Glan’ in
the valuable £80,000
handicap hurdle, with
‘Magic Tricks’ - second in
the Maze contest - filling
third.
De Bromhead and
jockey,
Rachael
Blackmore
doubled
up
when
champion
‘Honeysuckle’
won
the Grade 1 £100,000
Hatton’s Grace Hurdle
for the third time and,
after 14 starts including
a point to point, the
top class mare remains
unbeaten and, unless
it goes unnoticed when
winning her point was
trained at Banbridge
by Gerry Cosgrave and
owned and partnered by
the now retired top local
amateur, Mark O’Hare.
The Willie Mullins
trained
‘Statuaire’,
having
opened
his
account at Downpatrick
in May, claimed the
Grade 1 £100,00 Royal
Bond Hurdle in a photo
finish.
The Champion trainer
said: “She will go on to
Leopardstown for the
Grade 1 and you’d have
to say the mares’ novice
at Cheltenham would be
the target.”
Brilliant ‘Honeysuckle’
remains unbeaten
TATTERSALLS Ireland Derby Sale graduate
‘Honeysuckle’ maintained her unbeaten record
with a third successive victory in the Hatton’s
Grace Hurdle in Fairyhouse.
The reigning champion hurdler has now
recorded 13 from 13 on the track for trainer
Henry De Bromhead, and Sunday was her ninth
Grade 1 victory.
Sold for €9,500 at the Derby Sale by Doug
Proctor’s Glanville Stud to Mark O’Hare.