Performance pedigrees shine at Horse Sport Ireland Foal Championship 2020

Horse Sport Ireland recently held 5 qualifiers in the HSI Foal Championship 2020.  The overall  Championship had a prize fund of almost €25,000.

There regional qualifiers had separate categories and sections for horses and ponies for potential show jumping foals and potential eventing foals. The aim was to identify, evaluate and reward breeders who have bred a foal that has the potential to be competitive at the highest level in the disciplines of show jumping or eventing.

The qualifiers were held in September and four foals from each regional qualifier will advance to the final; the best show jumping type and the best eventing type in each category (horse and pony). HSI are pleased to include a prize at each of the qualifiers for the best traditionally bred (TIH) foal in the horse sections.

In the final this year there was €10,000 awarded across the categories.

This year the competitions were judged by Janet Murray, Lindsay Graham and Comdt Gerry Flynn.

Following the competition Lindsay said. ‘This is a great and well organised initiative by Horse Sport Irelands breeding department. If offers opportunities to breeders to show their foal on a platform for sales and gives experience to the foal before entering a sale or indeed an arena. There was excellent prize money on offer for competing in these foal championships which is a huge incentive for the breeders to continue in the right direction. I was particularly impressed by the emphasis that was put into performance pedigree lines. I think it bodes well for the future of Irish Sport Horse breeding. I would like to congratulate Alison Corbally and her breeding team for all the work that goes into organising and running a successful championship such as this one’.

Comdt. Gerry Flynn said ‘Without a doubt the quality of foal and pedigree is improving year after year in Ireland. All mares, foals and handlers were exceptionally well turned out and the foals were handled. The pedigree bonus points played a major role in our scores and I think this encourages breeders to make informed decisions when choosing the correct sire for their mare. We are definitely progressing in the right direction with our performance pedigrees in Ireland and I feel we are on par with our European counter parts. All breeders are much more aware of the value in breeding from both performance mares and stallions. Well done to the breeding staff in Horse Sport Ireland for organising this championship, I am sure it was much appreciated by all breeders given the battle everyone in the industry has suffered due to the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020’

Results below:

Winning Show Jumping Foal 2020:

1^st– Tangerado  Colt by Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve (BWP) out of Cruise Leaf (ISH) by Cruising (ISH) bred and owned by Dr Noel Cawley

Winning Eventing Foal 2020

1^st – Fenyas Allure Filly by Ramiro B (BWP) out of Fenya (ISH) by Good Thyne (TB) bred and owned by PJ Hegarty

 Winning Show Jumping Pony 2020

1st – CARNAKILLY MONARCH Colt by Carnakilly Mac Guire (CP) out of Carnakilly Coral (CP) by Dexter Leam Pondi (CP) bred and owned by Jackie Hockley

Winning Eventing Pony 2020

1st – Avalon Ferrero, Colt by Womanizer out of Curly Whirly by Inverin Rocky bred and owned by Michelle Gilligan

Traditional Irish Horse 2020

1st Kestrels Classic Clover Filly by Rising Sun (ISH) out of Diamond Cloverfield (ISH) by Captain Clover(ISH) bred and owned by Rebecca Dunlea

Following the result Dr. Noel Cawley said ‘I am delighted to win the show jumping section of the HSI foal championship. This is my second time to win this section. This dam is Cruise Leaf by Cruising out of Ballinakill Clover who has also bred horses who have competed up to 160 level. Such as Cruise on Clover, Golden Exchange, Hybernia and hopefully Dowth Hall will progress to that level in the Army Equitation School. Cruise Leaf herself has bred Glimmering who won the Irish Sport Horse Studbook series as a 7 year old and Ballypatrick Flamenco who won the Grand Prix in Vanencia a few weeks ago. I am hoping that this colt foal will follow in their footsteps.’

The foal championship is an excellent incentive for Irish Sport horse breeders throughout Ireland. The introduction of pedigree bonus points in these classes promotes successful performance blood lines while also encouraging the breeder to make informed decisions during breeding seasons.’

PJ Hegarty said ‘We are very grateful to HSI for giving us the opportunity to compete this year in the Foal Championship. We were thrilled to win the Eventing Foal section with our foal Fenyas Allure by Ramiro B out of our 24 year old mare Fenya. She was an ICSI foal born in mid July. This filly is a half sister to Fenyas Elegance, so she has big foot steps to follow. We are very happy with this foals strength, step and conformation and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for her.’

Alison Corbally Director of Breeding and Programmes in Horse Sport Ireland stated ‘After such a challenging year for all, I am delighted that the HSI Foal Championship received such positive support from the breeders. It is wonderful to see the progression of our mare herd in Ireland with some of the best performance pedigrees being used with top performance stallions to strengthen our Sport Horse breeds. Our breeding initiatives this year were altered considerably to enable them to continue within the government guidelines and restrictions and they were primarily targeted at offering additional support for breeders in this particularly difficult year. The Foal Championship offered breeders a substantial prize fund, an opportunity to show their foal in a Covid-19 safe environment, while also gaining experience in an arena. I would like to thank breeders and producers for their continued support, and I look forward to following the success of these foals in their competition careers in the future.’