Future stars shine in Autumn Development Series for Show Jumping

The 2023 HSI Autumn Development Series for Show Jumping, supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and The Marine, began on September 24^th with the first leg being held in the O’Brien Family’s Galway Equestrian Centre, and concluded on October 29^th in Killossery Lodge Stud in Swords of the Glynn family.

The Series took over five legs across the country, with a leg in each of the four provinces and was worth over €50,000 in prizemoney and breeders’ prizes.

This year saw a change from previous years where both the Four-Year-Old and Five-Old-Year classes had clear rounds dividing the class, with only the Six and Seven-Year-Old class having horses have a timed jump-off round.

The opening leg in Galway saw 18 horses compete in the Four-Year-Old HSI Development Series class, with 11 horses jumping clear.

The breeders’ prize draw for horses that jumped clear went to Glenmore Livestock Ltd for KPCM Hugo Boss (ISH) sired by Plot Blue (KWPN) out of Pewit Dezessete (AES) by Luidam (KWPN) and Donal Callery, breeder of Cookstown Sparrow (ISH), a mare by Coupe De Coeur (Holst) out of Gortglas Sparrow (ISH)[TIH] by Ashfield Bobby Sparrow (CP).

In the Five-Year-Old class, 21 out the 32 horse and rider combinations jumped double clear to divide the class. The breeder’s prize draw in this class went to Valerie Fogarty for Goodwins Emoji (ISH) by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Mount Frisco Carnival (ISH) by Cavalier Carnival (ISH), ridden by Ed Rhatigan. The second breeder’s prize went to James Kelly for Kelly’s OBOS (ISH) also by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Boney Kelly (ISH) by Dow Jones Courcel (SF) for rider Olivia Shanahan.

27 combinations came forward for the Six and Seven-Year-Old class with Co. Mayo’s Denis Hopkins taking the win onboard MDSandyhill Princess Mia (ISH) (Numero Cruise X Iroko) in a time of 43.05 ahead of Orla Dixon with Castlelawn Lux Special (ISH) (Castlelawn Captain Junior X Je T’Aime Flamenco). The breeder’s prizes went to Michael Egan for MDSandyhill Princess Mia (ISH) and Michael & John Morris for Castlelawn Lux Special (ISH).

Olive Clarke receiving her clear round rosette from Galway Equestrian Centre’s Thomas O’Brien for Stracomer Nemesis (ISH) in the Four-Year-Old Class. Photo credit: Laurence Dunne/JumpInAction.net

The Series travelled North for the second leg to The Meadows Equestrian Centre in Co. Armagh, where 19 horses of the 32 competing horses jumped clear in the Four-Year-Old class.
The breeders’ prizes went to John Fee for Fee Nix (ISH) sired by Echonix (ISH) out of Etoile Eternelle (ISH) by Ogano Sitte (SBS) and Nicholas Dillon, breeder of AKD Carnlea Blue (ISH), a mare by Chacoon Blue (Meckl) out of Drumiller Duchess (ISH) by Cardento (Holst).

62 combinations contested the Five-Year-Old class, with 24 of those jumping clear to divide the class. The breeders’ prize draw in this class went to James Hoare for Dowdstown Captain (ISH) by Diamant De Semilly (SF) out of Dowdstown Indi (ISH) by Argentinus (Hann), ridden by Jodie Creighton. The second breeder’s prize went to Joan Rothwell for Caugherty Ronan (ISH) by Hunters Scendro (Hann) out of Evita Van De Doornakkers (BWP) by Darco (BWP) for rider Alyson Henry.

The Six and Seven-Year-Old class saw 63 horse and rider combinations contest the class, with victory going to Co. Down’s Ellie Humphries and Allison Mercer’s Rossmount Luis (ISH) (Luidam X Clover Hill) in a time of 30.95. Second place on the day went to Lucy Gibson with Kandato (ISH) (Kannan X Aldato). The breeders’ prizes went to Michael Griffin for Rossmount Luis (ISH) and Enda Mulkere for Kandato (ISH). Both horses were bred in Co. Clare. Rossmount Luis, winning horse on the day, (ISH) is by Luidam (KWPN) out of Greenacres Clover (ISH) by Clover Hill (ID). Kandato (ISH) is by Kannan (KWPN) out Cusheen Beauty (ISH) by Aldato (KWPN).

Ellie Humphries and Rossmount Luis (ISH) winners of the Six & Seven-Year-Old Class in The Meadows Equestrian Centre. Photo credit: Tori O’Connor.

Leg 3 of the Show Jumping Development Series saw Co. Kilkenny’s Warrington Top-Flight Equestrian Centre host a field of 44 horse and rider combinations enter the Four-Year-Old class.

Of that field, 25 horses jumped clear to divide the prize fund with Suzanne Maguire and Jim O’Neill being selected as the breeders’ prize winners for Tomgar Fusion (ISH) and Castlefield Dubai (ISH). Tomgar Fusion (ISH) ridden by Derek McConnell,  was bred by Suzanne Maguire in Co. Wexford by Tullabeg Fusion (ISH) out of Tomgar Foalie (ISH) by Lucky Gift (TB). Castlefield Dubai (ISH), ridden by Dylan Savage, was bred by Co. Kilkenny’s Jim O’Neill by Z7 Dubai Castlefield (Holst) out of Castlefield Bella (ISH) by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD).

In the Five-Year-Old class, 45 out the 74 horse and rider combinations jumped double clear to divide the class.

In this third leg, Stephen Keane and John Mulligan claimed the breeders’ prizes for The Rookie (ISH) and Mohill Setanta (ISH) respectively. The Rookie (ISH) was ridden by Tholm Keane on the day and bred by Co. Waterford’s Stephen Keane. Sired by Olympic Lux (KWPN) out of Krafty Kate (ISH), the sister of Tholm Keane’s former Grand Prix winning mount Krafty Jack (ISH), by Diamond Serpent (ISH). Co. Leitrim’s John Mulligan bred Mohill Setanta (ISH) by Balou Du Rouet (OLD) out of Mohill Paris (ISH) by Mohill Treble C (ISH).

A further 77 horse and rider combinations entered the Six and Seven-Year-Old class where Co. Waterford’s Paul Beecher took the win onboard the mare Brogagh Darcy (ISH) when double clear in a time of 25.68 ahead of Daren Hopkins and Elite Della Caccia (SI) (Elvis Ter Putte X Cardento) who finished their round double clear in a time of 25.89.

The breeders’ prizes went to JJ Cumins in Co. Galway who bred the class winner Brogagh Darcy (ISH) by Dakar VDL (KWPN) out of Brocka Cruising Lucy (ISH) by Warrenstown We 3 (ISH) and Timothy Beecher who bred the second highest finishing Irish-bred horse in the class, third place Loughnatousa Echo (ISH) by Royal Concorde (ISH).

Paul Beecher and Brogagh Darcy (ISH) winners of the Six & Seven-Year-Old Class receiving his prize from Horse Sport Ireland’s Antonette Doran. Photo credit: Laurence Dunne/JumpInAction.net

The series then rolled on to Co. Cork’s Maryville Stables for the fourth leg which saw 23 horses compete in the Four-Year-Old HSI Development Series class, with 13 horses jumping clear.

The breeders’ prize draw for horses that jumped clear went to Kennth Cannon Erkina Metro (ISH) sired by Metrople (KWPN) out of Coevers Daughter (ISH)[TIH] by Coevers Diamond Boy (ISH)[TIH] and Marion Hughes, breeder of HHS Chamonix (ISH), a gelding by Echonix (ISH) out of Rosalina De Lush (ISH)[TIH] by Puissance (ISH)[TIH].

In the Five-Year-Old class, 17 out the 31 horse and rider combinations jumped double clear to divide the class.

The breeders’ prize draw in this class went to Sean Delaney for Quidam Ollie (ISH) by Quidam Junior I (KWPM) out of Lady Wellie (ISH) by Z Wellie 72 (KWPN), ridden by Ciara O’Regan. The second breeder’s prize went to Christopher Bell for Sunny Boy Max Striker (ISH) by KEC Maximum Joe (Westf) out of Doon Striker (ISH) by Maltstriker (KWPN) for rider David Splaine.

The Six and Seven-Year-Old class saw 40 horse and rider combinations come forward tackle Tom Holden’s course.

Victory on the day went to Co. Kilkenny’s Eddie Moloney and Rosamund (BWP) (Button Sitte X Landor S) in a time of 34.27. Second place on the day went to Tadgh Beecher with Loughnatousa Buachaill (ISH) when crossing the line in a time of 34.39.

The breeders’ prizes for the highest placed Irish-bred horses went to the late Noel Cawley in Co. Kildare who bred the runner up on the day, Loughnatousa Buachaill (ISH) by Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) out of Sammy Jee (ISH) by Samgemjee (ISH) and Co. Galway’s Patrick Connolly for breeding the third place finisher on the day, CSF Day Dreamer (ISH) for rider Liam O’Meara by Mylord Carthago (SF) out of SSH Dream Of Glory (ISH) by Cavalier Royale (Holst).

Mark Cleary and Primo Merona (KWPN) winners of the Six & Seven-Year-Old Class. Photo credit: Laurence Dunne/JumpInAction.net

The fifth and final leg of the Showjumping Development Series was held in Co. Dublin’s Killossery Lodge Stud where a field of 29 horse and rider combinations entered the Four-Year-Old class.

Eight of the combinations from that field jumped clear to divide the prize fund, with John Atkinson in Co. Monaghan, and Billy Daly in Co. Cork, being selected as the breeder’s prize winners for Kavandro (ISH), a mare by Colandro (Holst) out of Moonlight Cashel Beauty (ISH) by Cavalier Two For Joy (ISH), and Newmarket Mable (ISH) a mare by Vivant Van De Heffinck (BWP) out of Newmarket Clare Lady (ISH) by Newmarket Jewel (Westf) ridden by Lucy Gibson.

In the Five-Year-Old class, 15 out the 40 horse and rider combinations jumped double clear to divide the class.

This final leg saw Co. Waterford ‘s Vahe Bogossian and Thomas Hearne claiming the breeders’ prizes for Little Bit Foxrock (ISH) and Harristown Flamenco (ISH) respectively.

Little Bit Foxrock (ISH) was ridden by Julie O’Sullivan Gallagher on the day and is by Risohorse Locorotondo (Rhein) out of Ballinamonapark Honey (ISH) by Iroko (Westf).

Thomas Hearne bred Harristown Flamenco (ISH) by Je T’Aime Flamenco (BWP) out of Harristown Princess (ISH)[TIH] by Clover Flush (ISH)[TIH], the former international jumping mare of Paddy O’Donnell.

A further 30 horse and rider combinations entered the Six and Seven-Year-Old class where Co. Kilkenny’s Mark Cleary took the win with the mare Primo Merona (KWPN) (Grand Slam VDL X Matterhorn) when finishing double clear in a time of 30.37, ahead of Daren Hopkins and Elite Della Caccia (SI) (Elvis Ter Putte X Cardento) who took their second runner-up place of the Series when finishing double clear in a time of 30.50.

The breeders’ prizes for the highest placed Irish-bred horses went to Co. Clare’s Michael Griffin for Rossmount Luis by Luidam (KWPN) out of Greenacres Clover (ISH) by Clover Hill (ID), ridden by Ellie Humphries who finished third on the day, and Noel O’Brien in Co. Tipperary for breeding the fourth place finisher on the day, Ballyknock OBOS Hollywood (ISH) for rider Jazmine Arthur by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Honeylands Hollywood (ISH) by Luidam (KWPN).

The 2023 Horse Sport Ireland Autumn Development Series was supported by the Department of Food, Agriculture and the Marine through National Breeding Services.