One of the most successful and well-known Irish show jumping mares of the last century, the traditionally-bred Irish Sport Horse Millstreet Ruby passed away recently at her home in Millstreet, at the age of 33.

Owned and bred by Noel C Duggan, Millstreet Ruby was sired by the famous Irish Draught stallion King of Diamonds out of the Thoroughbred mare Carran, by Anthony.

First ridden by Robert Fagan and Seamus Hayes she earned her place in the Army ranks and won for both Comdt. John Ledingham and Lt. Col. Gerry Mullins in places diverse as Falsterbo, Hickstead, Calgary, Einhoven, Dublin and on home ground at Millstreet.

She was a full sister to Joe Fargis’ great USA Olympic horse Mill Pearl and she bred four foals that all jumped.

The five year – old Championship at Millstreet is named after her.

Irish riders place at World Cup opener

Irish riders made a solid start to the 2017/2018 Longines FEI World Cup indoor season, with Bertram Allen finishing sixth just ahead of Mark McAuley in seventh in Sunday’s opening round at Oslo in Norway.

Allen was riding the nine-year-old gelding Izzy by Picobello and McAuley went with the Eva Lundin-owned 13-year-old gelding Miebello.

The Irish duo were among seven combinations who made it into the jump-off. Victory went to Germany’s Daniel Deusser with Cornet, ahead of Kevin Staut (FRA) in second with For Joy van’t Zorgvliet HDC and Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander took third with California.

The result gives Bertram Allen 11 points and Mark McAuley 10 points on the Longines World Cup league table ahead of next weekend’s second round of the series at Helsinki in Finland.

Pony team’s Nations Cup win

The Irish pony show jumping team won last Friday’s Nations Cup at Chevenez in Switzerland.

Abbie Sweetnam with Dynamite Spartacus produced a perfect double clear round. Charlotte Houston and Sweet Whispers picked up 10 faults in round one and had one fence down second time out. Tom Wachman had four faults in round one with Flintstone B and jumped a clear in the second round. Kate Derwin and Cul Ban Mistress jumped clear in round one and didn’t need to jump in the deciding round with victory already in the bag on an eight fault total.

Netherlands finished second on 22 faults, with Germany third on 30 faults.