Irish winning streak continues at Liverpool International Horse Show

Photo: Aisling Byrne receives her winners prize from Horse Sport Ireland International Marketing Director, Elaine Hatton, following victory in the Irish Horse Gateway Amateur competition at Liverpool International Horse Show. Also pictured is Irish runner-up Lucinda Roche (far left) and third placed Reece Olive (GBR) (Photo: Tadhg Ryan/Bit Media)

IRISH horses and riders were in unbeatable form during Saturday afternoon’s Irish Horse Gateway Amateur competition, filling the top-two places, on the second day of Liverpool’s four-star International Horse Show in the UK.

Longford’s Aisling Byrne claimed the winners prize of a new Mini Cooper car, after she produced the only double clear round with her Irish Sport Horse, Wellview Classic Dream, Owned-by Brigid Byrne, Wellview Classic Dream, a 14-year-old mare by Classic Vision out of a dam by Urlingford, was bred-by Anne Shaw from Co Down.

Speaking following her superb win on Merseyside, a delighted Aisling Byrne said:

“We were working towards this show over Christmas and we were thrilled to be here. We are so proud that our horse is Irish-bred, we have had her for a number of years and she is the yard favourite. She is a great ambassador for an Irish horse because of her attitude, she is so honest and she really tries.”

Speaking from the event, Horse Sport Ireland International Marketing Director, Elaine Hatton, said: “We are delighted to support Liverpool International Show in this brave new initiative, which has been an outstanding success with huge crowds each day. The organizers deserve huge credit. It was fantastic to see two Irish riders with two Irish-bred horses fill the top two places on the podium and the perfect way to showcase Irish Horse Gateway.”
Another Irish rider, Lucinda Roche, finished as runner-up with her Irish Sport Horse WCE Falco.

In the morning’s opening two-phase class at Liverpool, Sligo’s Richard Howley got the Irish off to a flying start with a win riding Clane K, while Galway’s Michael Duffy finished seventh aboard the Irish Sport Horse, Castleforbes Rosie.

Co Down’s Dermott Lennon grabbed another podium finish for Ireland in the feature class on Saturday night aboard the 10-year-old mare Fleur IV, one place ahead of Cork’s Billy Twomey and Diaghilev.

Twomey had earlier finished on the podium in the afternoon speed class at Liverpool, grabbing third place with Tin Tin.

Liverpool International Horse Show concludes on Sunday evening with the curtain closing Grand Prix.

Photo: Aisling Byrne and the Irish Sport Horse, Wellview Classic Dream, on their way to victory in the Irish Horse Gateway competition at Liverpool International Horse Show (Photo: Tadhg Ryan/Bit Media)