Top three in the Speed and Power class, 1st Adrian Gilmartin, 2nd Ian Moore and 3rd Caroline Black with sponsor Frances Mellet from Jazz Sport Horses.

Connell Hill hosted the Ulster Amateur Rider of the Year Show on Saturday and Sunday welcoming competitors from all arts and parts of Ireland experiencing a full action packed weekend.  This show comprised a range of working hunter and show jumping fences in the first rate outdoor arena creating fierce competition as riders battled it out for a position on the podium.  Course designer, Mr Killian Clarke set tracks demanding skill from both horse and rider to make an on the spot decision navigating turns in order to jump clear beating the clock making this a most thrilling day.  Competitors walked each course to the theme tune of Europes ‘The Final Count Down’ making pain staking decisions on perfect strides with nippy turns to beat the clock.

Excitement could literally be felt in the air as the early birds set the trend for the day as they kicked of on Saturday morning competing in the Welcome Stakes sponsored by ‘Beak Enterprise’.  Each and every one gave it their all hoping for a coveted position on the podium and to a huge round of applause it was Dean Cotton, from Cookstown, who coolly took the prime position winning on his own ‘Coolda Castaway’ and the sky was certainly the limit for Grace Lavery, from Hillsborough, as she looked down from second position with her own ‘Sky Double J’ and taking the well deserved third position was Catherine Drain, from Antrim, on her mums ‘Alaska-M.

Eileen Duggan – most fashionable rider of the year at Ulster Amateur of The Year Show 2014. Congrats Eileen!!

The second class of the day the Accumulator, sponsored by ‘Clare Trailers’, was ‘déjà vu’ as Dean Cotton once again took the poll position with ‘Coolda Castaway’ and Grace Lavery second on ‘Sky Double J’ with Sarah Hall, from Warringstown, taking the third position on her own ‘Painted Perfect’.  This most captivating show then moved to the Derby class, sponsored by Barr Tec, and Killian with the arena crew once again swiftly adjusted the course to challenge proficient riding skills and meeting these demands taking the honours of first was Martin Wilson, from ‘Ballyclare’ on his own ‘Hermes Diamond’, and with only a whisker behind taking second was Frances Mellet, from Aghadowey, on her own ‘Unknown Territory’ and Joe Harris, from Warringstown, third on his own ‘Coppindell Concorde’.

This was without doubt a most electrifying show as those competitors who did not camp over made the return journey for Sundays challenges which began with the Speed and Power 2 Phase class, sponsored by Jazz Sport Horses’, and once again competitors pulled out all the stops and skilfully sped their way over the course in a bid to stand upon the podium and taking the first prime position of the day was Adrian Gilmartin, making the worth while journey from Co. Sligo, on his own ‘Pico Bellos Stal Ham’ with Ian Moore, who had held the lead from Newtownards, taking second on his ‘Triple C’ with Caroline Black, from Dromore, nipping into third on her ‘Rathfilane Star’.  The final class of the show, the Grand Prix class had spectators jumping out of their saddles from the sidelines as competitors threw caution to the wind and went for it which saw dividends pay for Catherine Drain, from Antrim, as she flew to top place on her mums ‘Alaska-M’, Val Joy took second place home to ‘Rathcoole Co. Dublin, on her own ‘Seaview Captain’ with Catherine Chambers, from ‘Lisbane, taking a very proud third on her own ‘Elysium Imp’.

Grand Prix podium placings. 1st Catherine Drain, 2nd Val Joy and 3rd Catherine Chambers. GIRL POWER!!!

Novelty prizes, sponsored by Burton Sport horses, were awarded in each class adding to the atmosphere and were indeed very well received by each lucky winner.

Leading Rider Award, sponsored by Gorge Fulton and SJM Security, was achieved by AA Section Dean Cotton and A Section Grace Lavery.

The visiting competitors who travelled great distances really felt at home as they quickly got into the spirit of things both competitively and socially really soaking up the atmosphere at Connell Hill with never a dull moment.  The generosity of sponsors was greatly appreciated by the hosts and winning competitors as they mingled throughout the show.  And following Saturdays big day it was ‘party time’ as the evening carried on with a Bar-B-Que, catered by AJS Promotions (Catering), and Disco which was highly entertaining as equine and non-equine enthusiasts got together for a good old knees up.

Adrian Gilmartin WINNER of the Speed and Power opening class today being presented with his prize by sponsor Frances Mellet from Jazz Sport Horses.

Equestrian Boutique, Kilmacrennan Co. Donegal, catered for the ‘shop-aholics’, with a vast range of tack, clothing and ornamental goodies to suit everyones needs and pockets.

Connell Hill would like to thank Course Designer Killian Clarke, Judges Avril Callaghan, Dora Beacom and Julie McLernon, Jim Prime Photography, AJS Promotions (Catering), Sponsors Beak Enterprise, Clare Trailers, Barr Tec, Jazz Sport Horses, Lamborgini Hats, Burton Sport Horses, George Fulton and SJM Security, Equestrian Boutique, Equestrian News N.I. and all those who helped organise to make the show such an overwhelming success and look forward to next year, 12^th and 13^th September 2015, where we can do it all again.

Dean Cotton leading AA rider and Grace Lavery leading A rider.

RESULTS

Welcome Stakes:  1^st Dean Cotton – Coolda Castaway, 2^nd Grace Lavery – Sky Double J, 3^rd Catherine Drain – Alaska-M, 4^th Helen Pearson-Murray – Cyrano Buttercup, 5^th Shirley Smith – Jailhouse Rock, 6^th Fiona Thompson – My Golden Wonder, 7^th Paul Tarpey – W C E Irish, 8^th Ian Moore – Sarko

Accumulator:  1^st Dean Cotton – Coolda Castaway, 2^nd Grace Lavery – Sky double J, 3^rd Sarah Hall – Painted Perfect, 4^th Sarah Kinnear – Elf Queen, 5^th Lucy Hamilton – Down Stream, 6^th Lynn Lowry – My Mustang Sally, 7^th Steven Greer – Seena De Haar, 8^th Coleen Glasgow – Claggan Dark Warrior

Rear of The Year Awards go to Paddy Ward and Margaret Fullerton! Kindly sponsored by Burton Sport Horses

Derby:  1^st Martin Wilson – Hermes Diamond, 2^nd Frances Mellet – Unknown Territory, 3^rd Joe Harris – Coppindell Concorde, 4^th Alistair Wilson – Fathers Footsteps, 5^th Margaret Fullerton – Vinday, 6^th Norman Campbell – Lynnbank Quest, 7^th Anthea Moffett – Pumba S, 8^th Paul Tarpey – W C E Irish

Power and Speed 2 Phase:  1^st  Adrian Gilmartin – Pico Bellos Stal Ham, 2^nd Ian Moore – Triple C, 3^rd Caroline Black – Rathfilane Star, 4^th Stephanie Scullion – Tease Me Tiger, 5^th Dean Cotton – Coolda Castaway, 6^th Joanna Curran – Ballytroddans Minnie Me, 7^th Steven Greer – Seeva De Haaar, 8^th Alistair Barr – Colt Forty Five

Catherine Drain WINNER of the Grand Prix this afternoon. Well done Catherine!!

Grand Prix Ulster Regions Points Cup:  1^st Catherine Drain – Alaska-M, 2^nd Val Joy – Seaview Captain, 3^rd Catherine Chambers – Elysium Imp, 4^th Anthea Moffett – Pumba S, 5^th John Lee – Glenamaddy Lux, 6^th Grace Lavery – Sky Double J, 7^th Dean Cotton – Coolda Castaway, 8^th Paula Tracy – Arklo