Ireland has much to celebrate in terms of the success of the Irish Sport Horse. This year the results at home and abroad, speak for themselves. As producers of sport horses, we have a phenomenal record at the FEI / WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses and 2018 was no different as the Irish Sport horse maintained their great record sheet in Lanaken.

In the five-year-old grand finale, the Irish contingent delivered their best result, taking gold, silver and bronze. Following a nail-biting competition, Sligo’s Richard Howley and the Irish Sport Horse Uppercourt Cappucino were crowned five-year-old World Champions.

Bred by Paul O’Byrne and now owned by HK Horses, he is by Pacino (BWP) and out of Uppercourt Posh (ISH) by O.B.O.S. Quality 004. Howley bought him after a show in Millstreet. The horse was owned at that time by Ger O’Neill [Castlefield Sport Horses] and Jason Higgins. Jason had produced the horse as a four-year-old and Howley bought him at the back end of that year.

Silver went to Tipperary’s Darragh Ryan with CSF Sir George (ISH). Bred by Shane Connolly and owned by Molly Tracy, CSF Sir George is by also by Pacino and out of Cavalier Royale sired dam, Norrira. This partnership proved very consistent in the ISH series and had qualified for Dublin Horse show. Competing in Vejer de la Frontera CSIYH1* at the start of the year, the combination had record three wins.

Kildare’s Michael Pender completed the line up with HHS Vancouver (ISH), who is owned and bred by Marion Hughes is a gelding is by Indoctro (Holst) out of La Juanita (ISH), by Don Juan De La Bouverie (SBS). This combination went into Lanaken with a series of good results, including a win in the Millstreet Ruby five-year-old Grand Prix final.

In the six-year-old final, Ger O’Neill finished just out of the medals when he took fourth place with Cuffesgrange Cavadora (ISH). Bred by Clare Hughes, the mare is by Z Wellie 72 and out of Cuffesgrange Cavalidam.

In the first of the seven-year-old qualifiers Kilkenny rider, Susan Fitzpatrick won aboard Keatingstown Z Wellie Two, while in the six-year-old qualifier, Michael Pender and Miss Belgium finished sixth. In the seven-year old qualifier, the Irish Studbook flexed its muscles once again, when Michael Pender’s clear with HHS Javas Gucci saw him finish second, ahead of Kenneth Graham and Pacino Amiro (Pacino by Carnone Dancing Queen). .

In the six-year-old consolation, Irish riders filled three of the top 10 placings. Best of those was Vincent Byrne and the Pearl Roche Fanning’s Irish Sport Horse Pearls Princess Gervantus (Luidam x Guinness 38) for second. In the five-year-old consolation class, the Irish Stud book was well represented with Jessica Burke and Ralph Morgan’s Orestus Clover (Orestus x Optimistic Clover) finishing third and Ger O’Neill and Dawsons Flex (Flexible x Carnalway Gold) coming home in fourth.

Dublin horse show

The RDS is always a great test for young horses. In the four-year-old Mo Chroi National Championship, JDP Dougland was crowned 2018 champion. Bred by Mayo man Joe Prendergast, the gelding is by Ard VDL Douglas out of the Corland sired dam, Dourwies. Ridden by Shane Goggins, the gelding led after the first round.

The five-year-old title went to Michael Pender and MHS New York. Bred by Thomas Brennan and owned by Miguel Bravo and Marion Hughes, the gelding is by Quidam Junior and out of the Cavalier Royale sired dam, Cavalier Kells.

Eddie Moloney and Temple Alice won the six-year-old division. Bred by Susan Macdonald from Wexford and now jointly owned by Moloney and TSI Equestrian. The gelding is by Foxglen Cruise Control and out of Innishannon Shamrock (Rantis Diamond).

Winner of the Mo Chroi four-year-old final at Dublin Horse Show 2018 Shane Goggins and JDP Dougland. \ Jack Lyons jumpinaction.net

Studbook series

Lady riders dominated the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Series finals. Gemma Phelan and Jessica Burke controlled the five-year-old final. Following a competitive jump-off, Phelan was victorious with ABC Ballycruise. Owned by Victoria Foster and bred by Patrick Kehoe in Carlow, the gelding is by Cruising and out of Arctic Diamond.

Jessica Burke and Lux A Special Lady finished just behind Phelan in second. Owned and bred by Desmond Judge, the mare is by Lux Z and out of Aisling Clover. Phelan returned to take third place with the Numero Uno sired (KWPN) stallion, Limestone Uno. Burke jumped another clear earlier in the class with Ralph Morgan’s Orestus sired mare, Orestus Clover, for fourth. Orestus Clover was crowned overall five-year-old Irish Sport Horse Studbook Series champion.

Sophie Richards won the six-year-old final with MHS Fernhill. Bred by the late Ita Brennan and owned by Carol Gee, the gelding is by Cardento and out of MHS Pembrook Lady (Guidam).

The six-year-old Irish Sport Horse Studbook series league champion was Longfield Quinlui (ISH) a bay mare by Quintender (HOLST) out of Dshlyi (ISH) by Luidam (KWPN) bred by Seamus Drea and owned and ridden by Derek McConnell. They had four double clears throughout the eight-leg series and accumulated 24 points. The combination also qualified for Dublin Horse Show and finished just outside the top six in the 1.30m final at Cavan at the end of September.

Shane Goggins won the seven-year-old final aboard Carrow Kavanann. Owned by Ballywalter Farms, the mare is by Kannan and out of Cavaliers Princess (Cavalier Royale). Gemma Phelan featured again finished second with Galaxy. Bred by Kedrah House Stud, the gelding is by Clarimo and out of Contend Heraldik.

Paciro (ISH) won the seven-year-old league champion. The gelding is by Pacino (BWP) out of Ramiro View (ISH) by Ramiro B (BWP). Bred by Patrick Flanagan and now owned by Aoife McCabe, he was ridden by Thomas O’Brien. This horse is one to watch, he has posted a series of impressive results and is proven at Grand Prix level, he finished second in Galway.

The presence of Irish Horses in the line-up’s in Grand Prix’s this year was also evident, the top seven horses on the National Grand Prix leaderboard were all Irish Bred –

Mr. Coolcaum, Curraghgraigue Take Flight, Kiss n Fly, Drumiller Lough, Clonguish Vivaro, Russel Style and Mr. Rockefeller.

In the New Heights Champion Series, 12 of the top 13 horses were Irish bred – Ringwood Glen, Rincoola Rua, Erne Ladygoldilocks, Vimminka, Gelvins Touch, Eldorado, BMH Big Time, GRC Acapella, Shannondale Rahona, Hallowberry Cruz, MJM Pursuit and Russel Style.