Irish Horse Board Showjumping League Grand Final 2007

The Grand Final of the Irish Horse Board Showjumping League 2007 took place at Cavan Equestrian 3 Day Show on Sunday 2nd September. The Irish Horse Board provided a prize fund of almost €17,000 for this event, the culmination of the IHB Showjumping League.

Between the two Grand Final classes, the Irish Horse Board were delighted to have the opportunity to make a presentation to Rich Fellers (USA), rider of both McGuinness (ISH) and Flexible (ISH), for his support of the Irish horse. Rich is undoubtedly one of the leading ambassadors of the Irish Sport Horse breed and the IHB were pleased to make the presentation to him at the Cavan Show.

The standard of jumping in the 5 Year Old Grand Final was very high and the jump off was hard fought. In the end it was Linda Courtney’s Cavalier Tommi Tank (ISH) and Ross Mulholland who won the class, taking their share of the €6,000 prize money. It was a successful day for Linda Courtney’s stables, who herself finished in forth place in the same class with Time to Cruise (ISH). Linda also owns Diamond Toby (ISH) and Touched Up (ISH), who finished fifth and sixth with Ross Mulholland.

In the 6/7 Year Old Grand Final, last year’s Grand Final winners Creevagh Miss Jones (ISH) and Delyth Collins jumped a superb jump off round to retain their title and take the 2007 Grand Final, winning the €6,000 class for owner Ronnie Hollinger. They finished clear in a time of 40.75, just ahead of Special Effects (ISH) and Olive Clarke who took second.

Based on points gained in the seven other finals and the Cavan Grand Final, the IHB awarded riders’ prizes of €1,000, €500 and €500 to the horse and rider combinations finishing in the top three in both age groups. Before a single fence had been jumped at Cavan, Andrew Bourns and Oakport White Water (ISH) had won the 5 year old league, being too far ahead on 42 points to be caught. In the 6/7 year old league, Olive Clarke’s second place in the Grand Final with Special Effects (ISH) was enough to clinch poll position, finishing just one point ahead of Andrew Bourns and Gowran Park (ISH).

The breeders of these superb Irish Sport Horses were not left out of the prize money. Linda Courtney, breeder of Cavalier Tommi Tank (ISH), and Trevor Badger, breeder of Creevagh Miss Jones (ISH), will both receive €400 from the IHB.

It was widely felt that this year’s Irish Horse Board Showjumping League was a resounding success. The IHB would like to thank all those involved in the shows that hosted the IHB classes for ensuring that the 2007 League was such a success. Special thanks to the Clarke’s for all their efforts for the Grand Finals. Finally, the IHB would like to thank all the riders, owners and breeders for their support of these classes and congratulate them on their success throughout the league.

Results of the IHB Grand Final, League Results/Riders’ Prizes and the final League Standings are detailed below. Photographs are to follow.

5 Year Old Grand Final:

1st Cavalier Tommi Tank (ISH) – 2002 bay gelding by Cavalier Royale (HOLST) out of Killy Hill (ISH), by Clover Hill (RID). Owner/Bred by Linda Courtney Cadam, 18 Dundrod Road, Nutts Corner, Crumlin, Co. Antrim. Rider: Ross Mulholland
2nd Marcus Breago (ISH) – 2002 bay gelding by Aldatus Z (OLD) out of Max Mandy (ISH), by Broussard (TB). Bred by Dr Hugh Durkin, Landscape House, Saggart, Co. Dublin. Owner: Charles Grendon. Rider: Scottie Barclay
3rd Sallymount Touch Of Clover (ISH) – 2002 bay gelding by Touchdown (ISH) out of Sillian Clover (WNTR), by Clover Hill (RID). Bred by Noel Tierney, Cornalara, Shercock, Co. Cavan. Owner/Rider: Fiona Campbell
4th Time To Cruise (ISH) – 2002 grey mare by Aldatus Z (OLD) out of Carnalecka Cruise (ISH), by Cruising (ISH). Bred by John Feerick, Carnalecka, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo. Owner/Rider: Linda Courtney
5th Diamond Toby (ISH) – 2002 bay gelding by Ekstein (KWPN) out of Duharra Diamond (ISH), by King Of Diamonds (RID). Bred by Morningside Stud & John O’Sullivan, Ogonelloe, Scariff, Co. Clare. Owner: Linda Courtney. Rider: Ross Mulholland
6th Touched Up (ISH) – 2002 chestnut mare by Touchdown (ISH) out of Dollar Lady (ISH), by Clover Hill (RID). Bred by Fr Simon Cadam, The Presbytery, Banagher, Co. Offaly. Owner: Linda Courtney. Rider: Ross Mulholland

6/7 Year Old Grand Final:

1st Creevagh Miss Jones (ISH) – 2001 chestnut mare by Dow Jones Courcel (SF) out of Ballure Girl (ID), by Island King (RID). Bred by Trevor Badger, Bridge House Stud, Ballynacargy, Co. Westmeath. Owner: Ronnie Hollinger. Rider: Delyth Collins
2nd Special Effects (ISH) – 2000 bay gelding by Bahrain Cruise (ISH) out of Lady Pam (ISH). Bred by Oonagh Mary Hyland, Bermingham House, Tuam, Co. Galway. Owner: John Melia. Rider: Olive Clarke
3rd Minnie Clover (ISH) – 2000 bay mare by Clover Brigade (ISH) out of Coco Au Lait (ISH), by Householder (TB). Bred by Jim Colohan, Crowsnest, Laurencetown, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. Owner: Sean Mulkern. Rider: Darragh Kenny
4th Marbridge Clover Diamond (ISH) – 2001 bay gelding by Clover Brigade (ISH) out of Diamond Imp VII (ISH), by Master Imp (TB). Bred by Martin Fenlon, Marbridge Teach, Old Leighlin, Co. Carlow. Owner/Rider: Trevor Breen
5th Gowran Park (ISH) – 2001 bay mare by O.B.O.S. Quality 004 (OLD) out of Grange Katoomba (ISH), by Duca Di Busted (TB). Bred by Mary Brennan, Mill House, Upper Grange, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny. Owner/Rider: Andrew Bourns
6th Heracross (ISH) – 2000 bay gelding by Ramiro B (BWP) out of Kingsway Clover (RID), by Clover Hill (RID). Bred by Elsie Woods, Tallyho House, Tinahely, Arklow, Co. Wicklow. Owner: Highfort Stud. Rider: Francis Connors

League Results/Riders’ Prizes:

5 Year Old League:

1st Oakport White Water (ISH) – 2002 grey mare by Cruising (ISH) out of Oakport Penny Diamond (ISH), by Diamond Lad (RID). Bred by Michael Keane Jnr, Ellesmere House, Ardcarne, Boyle, Co. Roscommon. Owner: Deirdre Bourns. Rider: Andrew Bourns
2nd Marcus Breago (ISH) – see above for breeding. Rider: Scottie Barclay
3rd Cavalier Tommi Tank (ISH) – see above for breeding. Rider: Ross Mulholland 

6/7 Year Old League:

1st Special Effects (ISH) – see above for breeding. Rider: Olive Clarke
2nd Gowran Park (ISH) – see above for breeding. Rider: Andrew Bourns
3rd Creevagh Miss Jones (ISH) – see above for breeding. Rider: Delyth Collins

Final League Standings:

5 YEAR OLDS:

6/7 YEAR OLDS: