HSI Foal Championship Qualifier at Hollypark Stables 6th September 2023

The first qualifier of four, of the Horse Sport Ireland Foal Championship, got underway today at Hollypark Stables in Limerick. With 26 entries across the 4 categories of Pony Eventing Foal, Pony Show Jumping Foal, Horse Eventing Foal and Horse Showjumping Foal, it was a fantastic turnout for the first qualifier.

Judges Andrew Gardiner and Damien Griffen were on duty to assess the competitors. The competition started at 12pm with the Pony Eventing Foal category being seen first in the arena. The winners of each category will now go in to compete in the Final of the Foal Championship on the 25^th October in CoilÓg Equestrian Centre.

The winner of the Pony Eventing Foal category was Jerry Maloney’s pony foal Barryroe Nipper Dandy (LHI), by Orielton Top Secert (WPB), out of Alices Firefly (WPB), grand sire Rotherwood Peter Pan (BRP).

Foal Championship judges Damien Griffen and Andrew Gardiner pictured with Jerry Maloney’s winning pony foal in the Pony Eventing category. Foal by Orielton Top Secert (WPB), out of Alices Firefly (WPB) by Rotherwood Peter Pan (BRP)

The reserve for the Pony Eventing Foal category was Brenybeg May (LHI) who is by Ffosluas Golden Rancher (WPCS), out of Astral Just a Dream (BRP) by Sandbourne Royal Ensign (RP) and owned and bred by John Dineen.

John Dineen’s  Brenybeg May (LHI) who was reserve in the Pony Eventing category-  by Ffosluas Golden Rancher (WPCS), out of Astral Just a Dream (BRP) by Sandbourne Royal Ensign (RP)

Pony Showjumping followed on from the Pony Eventing category and the winner here was Jane Ryan’s filly foal Killelton Glenwood Girl (ISP), by Glenwood Oak (CP), out of Killelton Snow Queen (ISH) by Tyson (KWPN).

Winner of the Pony Showjumping section Killelton Glenwood Girl (ISP) by Glenwood Oak (CP), out of Killelton Snow Queen (ISH) by Tyson (KWPN).

Reserve in the Pony Showjumping section when to Anna Boebel and Counting Stars RF (ISP). Counting Stars RF (ISP) by CARIATI D’ELSENDAM Z (ZANG), out of G-Spot RF (CP) by Mac’s Diamond Boy (CP).

Pony Show Jumping Reserve Counting Stars RF (ISP) by CARIATI D’ELSENDAM Z (ZANG), out of G-Spot RF (CP) by Mac’s Diamond Boy (CP)

The Horse foal categories commenced from 1pm, with the winner of the Horse Eventing foal section being named as Frank Gordon’s filly foal Dreamdora (ISH), by Odorado (KWPN), out of Dreamsequence (ISH) by Kannan (KWPN).

Frank Gordon’s filly foal Dreamdora (ISH), by Odorado (KWPN), out of Dreamsequence (ISH) by Kannan (KWPN), is named winner of the Horse Eventing Foal category,

Kieran O’Gorman and his foal Munthers Miss Lux (ISH) were presented with the reserve title for the Horse Eventing section. Munthers Miss Lux (ISH) by Munther (TB), out of Brookfield Miss Lux (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN).

Munthers Miss Lux (ISH) by Munther (TB), out of Brookfield Miss Lux (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN) presented with reserve in the Horse Eventing Foal section.

The final section for the opening qualifier was the Horse Show Jumping Foal category. Olive Clarke and her colt foal FSS Dynamo (ISH) (by Diarado (HOLST), out of FSS Copycat (ISH) by Kannan (KWPN)) took the win in this section.

FSS Dynamo (ISH) (by Diarado (HOLST), out of FSS Copycat (ISH) by Kannan (KWPN)) winner of the Horse Show Jumping category will now compete at the Foal Championship final.

Reserve winner of this class was Pat Magner with his foal by Big Star (KWPN), out of Kataleya (KWPN) by Carembar De Muze (BWP).

Lisenagh Star (ISH) by Big Star (KWPN), out of Kataleya (KWPN) by Carembar De Muze (BWP)- bred by Pat Magner

Prizes for the Best Turned-out Pony Foal and Best Turned-out Horse Foal (Foal/ Mare/ Handler combination) were awarded to Brenybeg May (LHI) who is by Ffosluas Golden Rancher (WPCS), out of Astral Just a Dream (BRP) by Sandbourne Royal Ensign (RP) and owned and bred by John Dineen  and David & Stephen Hickey’s horse foal by Dourkhan Hero Z (ZANG), out of Rincoola Nymph (ISH) by Cashman (HANN).

The second qualifier for the 2023 Foal Championship will be held in Kernans EC, Co Armagh on the 20^{th of} September. The final two qualifiers will take place in Wexford EC, Co Wexford, 3^RD October, and Tubberbride EC, Co Sligo, 11^th October.  You can enter HERE now.

For more information on the 2023 HSI Foal Championship, please CLICK HERE

Horse Sport Ireland would like to thank the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine for their support of the Foal Championship 2023 under National Breeding Services.