Smyth wins again in Studbook Series with Mr Kannan Ball

Shane O’Reilly and BWE Vain Hero (ISH) winners of the six-year-old class at Balmoral Show, pictured with Dr Sonja Egan, Head of Breeding, Development and Innovation with HSI

Following success in Cavan, Jonathan Smyth was victorious once again in the seven-year-old division at Balmoral

Less than ten points separate the top four riders with all focus now turning to the HSI Studbook Series final taking place in Tattersalls, Co. Meath on July 18^th and 19^th.

For the updated seven-year-old league table, click here

For the updated six-year-old league table, click here

For the updated five-year-old league table, click here

The penultimate leg of the 2023 Horse Sport Ireland Studbook Series, supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine moved north to Balmoral Park in Co. Antrim on July 8^th and 9^th for the National Balmoral Showjumping Championships.

In the seven-year-old class, 19 horses contested Sunday’s final, with six combination progressing too the jump-off. It was Co. Tyrone’s Jonathan Smyth and the Kannan-sired gelding Mr. Kannan Ball (ISH) who claimed the spoils, stopping the clock in 45.43 seconds.

Smyth and Mr Kannan Ball, owned by Noletta Smyth and Roy Craig, were making their first appearance in the HSI Studbook Series since their victory in the third leg of the Series in Cavan Equestrian Centre in May.

Slotting into second place when double clear in a time of 46.27 seconds was Irish Olympic event rider Clare Abbott with Sarah Reilly’s Caltra Classic (ISH), by Sligo Candy Boy (ISH), completing the podium for the third time this year was Kilkenny’s Molly Hughes-Bravo with the Z Seven Ascot-sired gelding HHS Tokyo (ISH).

The overall league leader, Co. Wexford’s Tomás Doyle, showed why he has been 2023’s Mr. Consistent with the homebred mare Monbeg Ruby (ISH). The duo finished fifth and further extended their lead in league on 31 points.

The win moved Jonathan Smyth and Mr. Kannan Ball into second place on a total of 24 points, ahead of Co. Meath’s Gerard Clarke and Castleforbes Gillian (ISH) who are in third with 19 points with one leg of the 2023 HSI Studbook Series remaining.

In the six-year-old final, 10 of the 25 horses that lined out for the class jumped clear and moved into the jump-off. Of the returning horse and rider combinations, seven jumped double-clear. It was Shane O’Reilly’s double clear on board BWE Vain Hero (ISH) in a time of 45.91 seconds that proved to be the winning round.

Second place went to Wexford’s Patrick Hickey with Silverteal Indigo (WSI) when jumping double clear in a time of 46.65 seconds, just pipping Molly Hughes-Bravo into third place with HHS Mercedes (ISH) in 46.75.

League leader Marti Rudd’s double clear in a time of 52.30 second with her Lanaken 2022 mount, Monbeg Sapphire (ISH), was good enough for a sixth place and further extended her lead in the league to 30 points with Shane O’Reilly moving into second place on the league by way of his fifth place finish on his second horse in the jump off, BWE Special Rose (ISH). The result saw them overtake Francis Derwin and MMG Candy Lady (ISH) pushing them into third place in the league ahead of the series final next week.

The result means that the husband and wife pairing of Tomás Doyle and Marti Rudd continue to sit on top of the seven-year-old and six-year-old leagues respectively.

As happened in the previous leg, the five-year-old final saw seven horses jumping double clear to divide the prizefund. It’s all change on top of the league leaderboard with Annie Courtney-Cadam and LCC Dunard Lady Dominator (ISH) taking over the lead and Brendan Murphy with OKE Dixieland Rock (ISH) moving into second place, moving Tholm Keane and Nairobi (KWPN) and Linda Moloney and Sir Escobar (ISH) into third and fourth place in the league standings respectively.

The HSI Studbook Series is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under National Breeding Services and is brought to you in association with Redmond Property Maintenance.

BREEDING:

7-Year-Olds

Monbeg Ruby (ISH) – 2016 Mare by Diamant De Semilly (SF) out of Ballycapple Mist (ISH)[TIH] by Boherdeal Clover (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder and Owner: Marti Rudd. Rider: Tómas Doyle (IRL)

Caltra Classic (ISH) – 2016 Mare by Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) out of Caltra Whiskey (ISH)[TIH] by Cult Hero (TB). Breeder: Seamus Cawley Esq. Owner: Sarah Reilly. Rider: Clare Abbott (IRL)

HHS Tokyo (ISH) – 2016 Gelding by Z Seven Ascot (ISH) out of Hhs Fortune (ISH) by Catoki (HOLST).
Breeder: Marion Hughes. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Molly Hughes Bravo (POR)

6-Year-Olds

BWE Vain Hero (ISH) – 2017 Mare by Ugadi Hero Z (ZANG) out of Vain Of The Lowlands (BWP) by Darco (BWP). Breeder: Brion McConville. Owner: Brian F Mcconville. Rider: Shane O’Reilly (IRL)

Silverteal Indigo (WSI) – 2017 Mare by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof (BWP) out of Dunroe Rafi (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN). Breeder: Paschal McCarthy. Owner: SIMON MCCARTHY.
Rider: Patrick Hickey (IRE)

HHS MERCEDES (ISH) – 2017 Mare by Can Ya Makan (HOLST) out of Chester Lass (ISH) by COULETTO (OLD). Breeder and Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Molly Hughes Bravo (POR)