Favourable weather for Mid-Antrim Horse Show

The ground had dried up very well during the week and escaped the deluges that happened on Thursday and Friday elsewhere. After only a small amount of rain in the early hours, the drizzle cleared and even the sun came out in the afternoon.

The going was perfect for jumping and the Working Hunter competitions were held this year on one the main playing fields with the non-registered classes using the other half.

The unregistered jumping started this year with “Junior Jumping” for the very little ones and the speed varied from walk to speedy trot depending on the ability of the child or possibly the energy of the leader! The classes progressed up with jumping heights of 50cm, 60cm, 70cm, 80cm and then the Open Competition of 90cm.

The Amateur jumping started on the other pitch followed by the Registered jumping, with the usual classes from 90cm to 1.20m. The numbers were somewhat down in these competitions possibly due to some of the competitors from further afield thinking the show was cancelled due to the weather, but the classes were well contested with Paul Caves on his handsome showjumper Quinten proving victorious in the 1.20m competition and winning the star prize of the P&O ferry ticket.

The 1.10 m class produced five double clears and the metre class, three, with Helen Pearson-Murray and Tara O’Connell clear in both. The 90cm class also had three double clears. The Amateur competition, which was kindly sponsored by Anthea Moffett, was fast and furious with some lovely clears but in the end Stephanie Rankin was the speediest and won first prize with her lovely horse Tease Me Tiger.

In the Juniors, Ben Robinson with Tilly Trotter was awarded the Brian Turtle prize. Nicholas Moffett was the lucky winner of the JB Electrics cup, drawn out of the eight clears in the 70cm class.

Lesley Anne Moore had a very successful day on Princess Frodo, drawing for the Galgorm Manor cup out of six double clears in the 80cm competition, then adding to her success with her winning round in the timed Open 90cm competition where she won the Norwood Shield.

The Working Hunter competitions were over a beautifully designed course which was exceptionally imaginative due to the efforts of the Hamilton and Graham families and their helpers. It included gates, arches, logs and other hunting style fences.

The judge was Mrs Marina Wray who stood patiently all day scrutinising the horses and ponies. It was a difficult job as most of the competitors performed beautifully and were very well turned out.

Some of them were very young such as Bethany Gordon who rode very well on her pony Milo and came second in the under 12’s. This class was won by Beth McCartney on Waltzing Matilda who went on to win the Working Hunter Pony Championship, with Peadar McLaughlin, who had won both the Novice and Open Pony classes on Dun Deal, as runner up.

The small hunter/cob class was won by Joe Hamilton on his mother’s gorgeous grey cob Lisnaskea Streak who is probably off to Dublin Show next month. The Novice Horse was won by Katie Maybin riding Tommy Caves’ young hunter Thomas who behaved perfectly all day and went on to win the Championship with Joe Hamilton on Lisnaskea Streak as Reserve. The Open Horse was won by Orlaith McLaughlin on her very versatile horse Flynn.

The committee were delighted that the new Mayor of Ballymena, Alderman PJ McAvoy, came to visit the show and showed great interest in all the events. They are very grateful for his support and to all the sponsors who make the day possible.

These include P & O Ferries, Blue Grass Feeds, Ken McMillan, the Adair Arms Hotel, Cunningham Covers, Abbey Upholsterers, Tobermore Concrete, Gary Mark Catering, Stephens Catering Equipment, Mervyn Hawe, Wilsons Of Rathkenny, N & P Tyres, Kilona Coffee, Old Stone Veterinary Clinic, Anthea Moffett, Castlehill Equestrian Centre, Spillers, Wilsons Auctions, Sam & Neil Anderson, H. Colvin & Son, Jollyes Pet Foods, Cater Quip, Paul McAleese, Farrier, Laurelview Equestrian Centre, Doherty & Gray Meats, Hamilton Hunters, Doagh Farm Feeds, Old Mill Saddlery, Feedall Pet Foods, Greers of Antrim, Ben Vista Nursery, Clonkeen Equestrian Supplies, John Reid Engineering, Hazlett Fuels, Algram, Tullyglass House Hotel, The Country Garage, Turtles of Rathkenny, and all the other people who helped before during and after the show.

The judges, including Tom O’Neill, Hugh Nicholl, Marina Wray and their scribes worked very hard all day as did the Jess family who set up, judged and dismantled the courses with their usual good humour and efficiency.

The Show Chairman Brian Turtle is very grateful to all who worked so hard to make this a successful and smooth running day and was very pleased with the success of the new lay-out for the different competitions.

It has proved that even with a wet summer, the ground is excellent for the purpose and the proper gravelled and spacious carpark makes getting lorries and trailers stuck a thing of the past.

* Don’t miss this week’s Ballymena Times for a picture special from Mid-Antrim Horse Show.