Victory for Irish Sport Horse at the First Irish Horse Board Dartfield International Horse Trials

At the Irish Horse Board International Horse Trials at Dartfield last weekend, the Irish Sport Horse Hugginstown ridden by Louise Bloomer (Irl) claimed victory in the CCI*. 

Second last to jump and with pressure mounting, Hugginstown and Louise produced a magnificent clear round to finish on their dressage score of 47.86 and subsequently went on to win the class. The 8 year old by Puissance out of a Carnival Night mare is owned by Stephen Lanigan O Keeffe. In 7th place was the Cavalier gelding Loxton Ridge, owned and ridden by Deirdre O’Reilly (Irl). Brid Duggan’s Innishannon On Air by Triggero (TB) ridden by Heidi Hamilton (Irl) were placed in 8th.

The CCI** saw Nordic Gent by Nordic Brave (TB) ridden by Nigel Taylor from Great Britain taking 2nd, Nearly A King by Nearly A Nose (TB) ridden by Sara Ennis (Irl) for Ronan Kinsella taking 3rd, Carol & Tom Henry’s Fernhill Clover Mist by Kiltealy Spring (ISH) ridden by Patricia Donegan (Irl) in 5th and Brave Spirit by Raise You Time (TB) ridden by Michael Ryan (Irl) and owned by Nikki Kirkwood were 11th. 

The Irish Horse Board boosted the prize fund with an additional €3000, divided between the two classes. These prizes were awarded to the owners of the 3 highest placed Irish Sport Horses in both classes, with €1,000 going to the top placed ISH in the CCI** and €500 to the top placed ISH in the CCI* class. Nearly A King, Fernhill Clover Mist and Brave Spirit took the prizes in the CCI** and Hugginstown, Loxton Ridge and Innishannon on Air in the CCI*.

The Leahy family provided excellent facilities for all involved and the Irish Horse Board is delighted to have been associated with such a successful event.

Breeding of the above Irish Sport Horses:

Hugginstown (ISH) 1997 gelding by Puissance (ISH) out of Nite Lite (ISH) by Carnival Night (TB). Bred by Thomas Walsh, Aghaviller, Hugginstown, Co Kilkenny.
Loxton Ridge (ISH) 1998 gelding by Cavalier (Holst) out of Classy Lucy (ISH) by Balboa (TB). Bred by Eddie Power, Knockaraha, Ballymacamlery, via Clonmel, Co Waterford.
Innishannon On Air (ISH) 1998 gelding by Triggerero (TB) out of Innishannon Clover (ISH) by Clover Hill (RID). Bred by Brid Duggan, Innishannon Horse Centre, Innishannon, Co Cork.
Nordic Gent ­­­­­­1997 gelding by Nordic Brave (TB)
Nearly A King (ISH) 1995 gelding by Nearly a Nose (TB) out of Lucky Queen (ISH) by Kildalton King (RID). Bred by Alice Pringle, Sunnyhill Farm, Aughrim, Co Wicklow.
Fernhill Clover Mist (ISH) 1996 gelding by Kiltealy Spring (ISH) out of Clover Mist (ISH) by Clover Hill (RID). Bred by Matthew Maguire, Boley, Ballycarnew, Gorey, Co Wexford.
Brave Spirit (ISH) 1996 gelding by Raise You Time (TB) out of Julieet (AID) by Amazon (TB). Bred by Finbarr O Neill, Firgrove Stud, Ballinhassig, Co Cork