Harry Marshall on Kingdom, Winner of the 1.30 Volvo Grand Prix

The Mid Antrim Horse Show will be held as usual at the Ballee Playing Fields, Ballymena on Saturday 28th June and following the success of last year’s prestigious new 1metre30 Grand Prix, it will be repeated again this year. Volvo Dennison Commercial Trucks have very kindly agreed to sponsor this again with an extremely generous prize fund of £1000. It was won last year by Harry Marshall with runner up Paul Caves.
The day will start at 9am in Arena 1 with the usual Amateurs classes sponsored by Anthea Moffett. It will follow on with registered classes of Im, 1.10m, and 1.20m and the registered 90cm will start at 9.30am in Arena 2. For the juniors and small ponies or even the not so brave adults and horses, the Junior Jumping will start at about 11am in

Arena 2 after the Registered 90cm and will follow on with 70, 80, 90 and 1metre jumping for horses and ponies.

Arena 3 will be the venue for the Working Hunter Classes, organised by the Graham and Hamilton families, and no doubt some of the very imaginative fences designed by Andy Hamilton last year, will make a reappearance.

Paul Caves on Quinten Runner Up 1.30 Grand Prix

The show committee are very grateful to all their sponsors including Dennison Commercial Volvo Trucks, Tullyglass House Hotel, Curtis Cars, The Country Garage, Adair Arms Hotel, O’Connor Kennedy & Turtle, Abbey Upholsterers, Cunningham Covers, Tobermore Concrete, Castlehill Equestrian Centre, Cater-Quip, Wilsons of Rathkenny, grounds2go, N&P Tyres, Stephens Catering Equipment, R.Colvin & Sons, Ken McMillan, Wilsons Auctions, Sam & Neil Anderson, Laurelview Equestrian Centre, Gary Mark Catering, Gardiners Stores, Paul McAleese, Wilsons of Rathkenny, Doherty & Gray, Ben Vista Nursery, Greers of Antrim, Oldstone Vets, Old Mill Saddlery, Algram, feedall Pet Foods, Clonkeen Equestrian Supplies, Hazlett Fuels, Hamilton Hunters, Sean Reynolds and Doagh Farm Feeds.
The show jumping courses will be built as usual by the expert Jess family and there will be something for every level of competence from lead rein up to the Grand Prix.
For enquiries please phone Anne Osborne on 2587 8464.

Joel Johnston of Donnelly & Taggart with William Thompson & Paul Ferguson and Coolidge

On Saturday 5th April punters can get two racing events for the price of one, as they can watch the Mid Antrim Hunt Point-to-Point at the Higgins estate, Moneyglass, and can also enjoy the excitement of the Aintree Grand National while relaxing with a pint in the bar tent. McLarnons are providing two large TV screens to cover the Grand National and there will be the normal programme of races for the point-to-point. The Mid Antrim Hunt are very grateful to the sponsors who are supporting this event. For a second year Donnelly & Taggart are very generously sponsoring the main race of the day which is the Open Lightweight Race. Donnelly & Taggart supply most of the major makes of 4×4 vehicles and are closely connected to the farming and equestrian community. When there is a tough challenge with difficult weather or heavy loads to pull, their vehicles are in a class of their own, and the Mid Antrim Hunt is very grateful that they have returned for a second year to support their point-to-point. The first race is for Maiden 4 year olds and Dennison Commercials are very valuable supporters of this race which they have sponsored for many years. Another generous supporter, Albert Bartlett & Sons are sponsoring the race for Maiden 5 year old geldings and McBurney Transport have shown their continued support by sponsoring the Maiden Race for 6 year old plus Geldings. This year there is a particularly special race in the programme which is dedicated to the memory of the very much missed Master Andy Hamilton. Andy, who was a Master of the Hunt until his death last November, was very active in racing circles and always put a huge amount of effort into the Mid Antrim racecourse preparation, regardless of his illness. This race is sponsored by Andy’s wife Judith together with his two good friends David Crawford and Richard Cowan and no doubt it will be a very emotional event.
For this point-to-point David Crawford of “The Garage” has taken up the challenge of acting as Clerk of the Course ably assisted by Paul Ferguson and a great team of helpers. Katrina Mackie who has previously fulfilled this role is injured after a skiing accident and unable to take part.
The point-to-point committee are hoping for a great day and looking forward to a very exciting double bill of live racing with the Grand National viewing as an extra bonus. The Higgins family have as usual been very supportive in keeping the course in great shape for the point-to-point and all the sponsors are very much appreciated for their loyalty. Last but not least are the farmers to whom the Hunt are very grateful for all their support and hope they will take a break from their work to come and enjoy the racing.

Taylor Hunter on Ballybollen Blue 2nd in the 50cm class

On Saturday 5th October a Mid Antrim Hunt Jump Cross was held at Castlehill Equestrian Centre and it proved to be an extremely successful event with very respectable entries considering how many other things were happening on the same day. A great deal of work was involved in setting up the course which was designed by Fiona Magill and Jamie Sloan with Andy Hamilton and Beverly Caves directing operations. Andy Hamilton has been a very busy man over these past weeks with the recent point-to-point, the Jump Cross and his own Hunter Trials next Saturday 12th October at Knockan Road, Broughshane. After the heavy rain on Thursday the ground was somewhat wet but thankfully a glorious day on Saturday dried up the ground in no time.
The Castlehill event consisted of a round of show jumps in the arena followed immediately by a cross country round, with jumps for the

A delighted Lucy Gillespie winner of the 50cm class

very young up to the most testing Open course. It was not a speed contest but the clear rounds were decided by those who were closest to the optimum time. In fact all day no-one was inside the optimum time as the cleverly designed course was not one for flat-out galloping but required skill to negotiate the twists and turns. There was a great variety of cross-country fences with coffins, banks, open ditches and every sort of fence including a few knockable ones including Hickstead rails which are guaranteed to catch out the less experienced. There were a few spills and tears in the 50cm class but with plenty of help and encouragement from parents for those that really needed it, all ended in smiles and it was a major education for the children and their ponies. The biggest smile was on the face of Lucy Gillespie who, on her smashing pony aptly named Lucy’s Boy, had lovely rounds in both show jumping and cross country sections and won the 50cm class. Taylor Hunter on Ballybollen Blue was 2nd, Zoe Dickey on Silver 3rd, and Jessica Mark on Mr Sparkles 4th.
The next competition was the 70cm and James McNabney looked like he might be in the red ribbons for the Under 14’s section, but from when Bob Hamilton came into the ring it was clear he was out to win and steamed round both courses on Stan the Man with a blistering time that put James McNabney into second place. At a slightly more ladylike pace came Erin Dunseath in 3rd on Malibu and Orla O’Kane on Floyd in 4th place. In the 70cm for Over 14’s, Joe Hamilton who whips in for the Mid Antrims and is a few days short of 15 years old, rode beautiful clears in both parts of the course to win 1st place, followed by seasoned hunter Walter Irvine on his daughter Ruth’s Glittering Captain in 2nd. Dawn Reeve was delighted with her ultra reliable cob Jack who sailed round steadily with his ears pricked all the way in a lovely couple of rounds to come 3rd. Joe Hamilton was only caught out by the Hickstead rails to have 4 faults and come 4th on the young horse, Colonel Mustard. Before the Open Class started there was some fairly extensive fence rebuilding after a competitor did a good demolition effort on the Open point-to-point fence, deciding it was an easier option than the little log.

James McNabney 2nd in the 70cm class on Pedro

The Open 90cm course had quite a few extra fences with competitors jumping a wall with a telegraph pole on top to go out into another field where there were two portable fences in the open before they turned to jump back down into the main field again. There were three faultless rounds in both courses but quite a few four-faulters who either had a pole down in the show jumping or were caught out by the two knockable fences on the cross country. Others were unluckier, but all riders stayed aboard and all got round after a few trials and tribulations. Fiona Magill, who with Jamie Sloan, Beverley Caves and Orla McLaughlin, had such success in the Dublin Horse Show Inter Hunt Chase this year, toned down her Hunt Chasing speed just enough to ride a steady winning clear and almost nail the time, just two seconds over the optimum time of 2 and a half minutes. She was riding her hunt-chasing mare Merrin who has turned into such a great all-rounder. Second was Paul Caves on his wife Beverley’s young horse Leo, clear but just 3 seconds slower than Fiona. Beverley was too busy to ride as she was occupied sprinting with her stopwatch from the

Fiona Magill winner of the Open 90cm class being congratulated by Tommy Caves

finishing points of the cross country to start the next competitor in the showjumping arena and back again, so she must have been exhausted by the end of the day. Third was Joe Hamilton on the stunning and talented mare Sally who was only a second behind Paul. 4th was Ruth O’Brien on the veteran Mr Spooks who has given Ruth and her father Walter such pleasure over the years in competitions and on the hunting field.
The success of the day was due in a huge way to Mid Antrim Hunt Master Andy Hamilton’s drive and determination to work so hard for the hunt, providing the impetus for these events, ably assisted by all his family, and to Fiona Magill and Jamie Sloan who have been working so hard building fences for both the Saturday events. Thanks must go to Beverley and Paul Caves for the use of Castlehill and all their hard work and to all the teams of people who have been turning out to help. It has been a very busy period for the Hunt but they are all looking forward to next Saturday’s Hunter Trials and then the start of the hunting season.

Orla Mclaughlin on Dillon in the Working Hunter Competition

The Mid Antrim Horse Show committee are delighted to announce for 2013 the introduction of a prestigious new registered competition, the Ulster Region 1.30m Grand Prix League, with a fantastic prize of £1000 very generously sponsored by Volvo Trucks UK, and the show committee is extremely grateful for this exceptional sponsorship.

The Show will be held again at the excellent venue of the Ballee Playing Fields on Saturday 22nd June 2013, by kind permission of the Ballymena Borough Council, and marks a change of the usual date.

In addition to the new Grand Prix competition there will also be 1.10m and 1m Leagues and the registered jumping will start with a 90cm competition. The courses will be built by the Jess family team who employed their skills to great effect at the Olympics last summer.

The Amateurs will have their usual competitions kindly sponsored by Anthea Moffett and there will also be unaffiliated jumping for ponies and horses catering for all levels from the very junior jumping for the youngest competitors to the more experienced children and adults. This year, to accommodate families who are bringing several riders or ponies, we are offering a discount on certain competitions in the form of £2 a round. In addition to prizes there will be Silver cups and a Shield for the lucky winners to take home in the later unaffiliated competitions. The Show will start at 9am this year to accommodate the new classes.

Paul Caves Winner of the P&O Ferry ticket for 1.20m in 2012

The Ballee Playing Fields offer an exceptional grass surface for jumping and those who braved the rain last year were very impressed by the ground which, with its well prepared sandy base, proves very good for jumping in either wet or dry conditions and there will no doubt be hot competition this year for such a generous prize fund. In addition to the exceptional sponsorship of Volvo Trucks UK, the show is also kindly sponsored by O’Connor Kennedy & Turtle, Wilsons of Rathkenny, Cunningham Covers, Abbey Upholsterers, Tobermore Concrete, Tullyglass House Hotel, The Country Garage, N & P Tyres, Castlehill Equestrian Centre, Cater-Quip, Stephens Catering Equipment, Adair Arms and Paul McAleese, Farrier.

The Working Hunter Competitions will start this year at the earlier time of 10am and will offer the usual competitions for horses and ponies, with the ponies jumping first. Prizes will be in kind and the course will be built by Andy Hamilton and his helpers. Those who attended the Working Hunters at Ballymena Show will have been impressed by his excellent and imaginative fences there and the course at Ballee will be enhanced by the addition of tubs of flowers kindly donated by Ben Vista Nurseries. The sponsors of the Working Hunter competitions are Greers of Antrim, Hazlett Fuels, Clonkeen Equestrian Supplies, Oldstone Veterinary Clinic, Algram, Doherty & Gray, Hamilton Hunters, Sean Reynolds Landscaping and Building, Doagh Farm Feeds, Old Mill Saddlery and Feedall Pet Foods.

The committee is very grateful for the help of Ballymena Borough Council and all the sponsors in running this greatly enhanced show. For enquiries about the Show Jumping please phone Tommy Caves on 07990582081 and for Working Hunter phone Darius Graham on 07885350140 or Judith Hamilton on 07904342222.