It’s All About The ‘Diamond’ at Connell Hills’ Two Day Horse Show

News Desk | April 9, 2014

The superb outdoor arena at Connell Hill hosted a most fabulous ‘Two Day Horse Show’ kindly sponsored by Mr Alistair Barr, BarrTec, and Mr Vincent Burton, Burton Sport Horses, which saw over the two day show some speed tracks incorporating fast technical thinking designed by Mr Will Crean and Judged by Heather Coyle and Nicola Tang on Saturday with David Greene and Julie McLernon on Sunday. This Two Day show demonstrated some most athletic jumping which required precision with controlled riding. The first award of this hugely competitive show was presented to Gillian Lee, from Tobermore, as she demonstrated much of these skills winning the 80 cm class on Saturday to then jump double clear and be amongst the prize winners of the 90 cm class on ‘Luidams Diamond’, an up and coming athlete of the future. There were no diversions for the next challenge, the 1.0 m class which saw Paul Humphires, from Dromore, jump double clear on ‘Direct Route’ with Deborah Newberry, from Ballyclare, on ‘Lurgan Air’ and ‘Mullaghdrin Diamond Day’. The mischievous Stephanie Scullion, from Knockloughrim’ won the 1.10 m class on ‘Tease Me Tiger’, and taking the royalties in the 1.20 m class as he cruised into first place on ‘Calgot Cruise’ and then second on ‘Clagan Royale’ was Stephen Brown from Magherafelt. Emily Turkington, from Cookstown, had a most successful day winning first place in the 1.30 m class on ‘Allihies Diamond Boy’ and third on ‘Willem’ with Hannah Smyth rocketing into second place on ‘Breemount Rocket’.

Competitors enjoying the friendly welcoming atmosphere returned on Sunday, the second day of this show, to take the challenge of tracks testing ability on this first class surface with superb ground control thus enabling speed with sure footedness. The day commenced with Stephen Gibson, from Armagh, on ‘Cavalier Knight’, Claire Doherty, from Eglinton, on Carnoneybridge Challenger’ and Edward Little, from Ballymena, on ‘Obos Quality Delight’ and Galwaybay Untouchable G’ all jump double clear rounds. No one could catch Sean Nangle as he took the 1.0 m class by storm winning in an incredibly fast time on, Robert & Diane Lowry’s mare, ‘Sally (Per-ID). As it came to the 1.10 m class there were split seconds in the times as competitors threw caution to the wind and ‘went for it’ which saw flying into first place Stephen Gibson on ‘Milford Cool Flyer’, springing into second place Lucy Hanna, from Dunadry, on ‘Spring Rumba’ and scooping a most deservedly third was Sarah Jane Alexander, from Toomebridge, on ‘I Am Legend’. Any Horse competition can be like the lottery but when it came to the 1.20 m class Ana Desmond, from Greenisland’, had it all under control winning the honours of first place on ‘Rollover’ with Rebecca Patterson, from Newtownards, picking up second on ‘Crucio SR’. Even though the show was drawing to a close with the last class, the 1.30 m class, the adrenalin, the buzz, the excitement still filled the air which saw local man, Philip Gaw, from Randalstown, claim victory on ‘Rocky Bond’ with Suzanne Posnett, from Comber, take second on ‘Cocos Mademoiselle’, Laura Brown, from Magherafelt, on ‘Zion Cruise’ third, and Tom Doherty, from Carrickfergus, picking up fourth on ‘Intro-Link Larry’ and fifth on ‘Vangelis (Kwpn).

Connell Hill would like to express their gratitude to Mr Alistair Barr, BarrTec, Mr Vincent Burton, Burton Sport Horses, for their sponsorship, Course Designer Mr W Crean, Judges Heather Coyle, Nicola Tang, David Greene and Julie McLernon, Photographers Mr Gareth Stewart and Mr Joe Kirkpatrick, thanks also to the arena crew who worked tirelessly throughout this show and of course you the competitors accompanied by your grooms, without whom this show would not have been the success it was, and we welcome you all back in the not too distant future.

*PLEASE NOTE*: SJI Horse League continues on Sunday 13^th April at 10.00 am, classes 80 cm – 1.30 m. League dates are Sunday13th, Saturday 19^th April and final on 26^th April. Competitors must jump at five league dates to qualify for final.

Ulster Region Pony League Show Jumping on Saturday 12^th April at 9.30 am.

Cash Jumping Ireland Show on Tuesday 22^nd April at 10.00 am, classes 60 cm – 1.30 m, this show is designed for all show jumpers whatever level, providing fair competition for all. For more information on Cash Jumping or to register go to www.cashjumpingireland.com

5 Week SJI Horse League commencing Saturday 3^rd May, 10^th, 17^th, 24^th and final on 31^st May at 10.00 am, classes 80 cm – 1.30 m.

Training Shows will continue next Friday night at 6.30 pm, X-Poles – 1.10 m classes, where everyone will receive a warm welcome with café facilities for hot and cold drinks/snacks.

Further details contact Gillian on 078 03 178 009 or Grace 077 65 884 254.

RESULTS:

Saturday 5^th April

80 cm: 1^st Gillian Lee – Luidams Diamond

90 cm: =1^st Amy Black – Lissangle Luxzavella, Russell Alexander – Miss Match, Stephanie Doherty – Beechmount Champ, Gillian Lee – Luidams Diamond, Kevin Mackey – Neat Moonshadow

1.0 m: =1^st Deborah Newberry – Lurgan Air, Angie McKeown – Pennys Lagan, Noel McKee – Keeford Sundance, Deborah Newberry – Mullaghdrin Diamond Day, Danielle Davison – Seapatrick Savanna Clover, Brian Smyth – Limmericks Quarry Gold, Connor Stewart – Achillea, Jacqui McKinney – Emiel, Paul Humphries – Direct Route, Shannon Leinster – Metropolitan

1.10 m: 1^st Stephanie Scullion – Tease Me Tiger, 2^nd Joanne Gibson – Seaview Lass, 3^rd Helen Pearson-Murray – I Aint No Tinker, 4^th Sarah-Jane Alexander – I Am Legend, 5^th Ruairi Logue – Casual Z, 6^th Stephen Brown – Clagan Royale, Claire Badger – Wakelys Knight Of Cydonia, Victoria Brown – Cavalier Shadow, Alistair Barr – Colt Forty Five, Paul Humphries – Direct Route, Kevin Mackey – Gi Gi IHR, Tanya Smith – Kilmastulla Harlys Diamond, Mark Kinsella – Magic Cuidam, Kirsty Parke – Suzanna Lux, Noel McKee – Keeford Athena, Paul Tang – Neat Kaiser, Olivia McCormack – Nightlife

1.20 m: 1^st Stephen Brown – Calgot Cruise, 2^nd Stephen Brown – Clagan Royale, 3^rd Hannah Smyth – Breemount Rocket, 4^th Victoria Brown – Cavalier Shadow, Ruairi Logue – Casual Z, Katy Connor – Ballyrobin Nimmerdor, Kevin Mackey – Big Mick, Kevin Mackey – KG Star

1.30 m: 1^st Emily Turkington – Allihies Diamond Boy, 2^nd Hannah Smyth – Breemount Rocket, 3^rd Emily Turkington – Willem

Sunday 6^th April

90 cm: =1^st Edward Little – Obos Quality Delight, Stephen Gibson – Cavalier Knight, Claire Doherty – Carnoneybridge Challenger, Edward Little – Galwaybay Untouchable G

1.0 m: 1^st Sean Nangle – Sally (Pet-ID), 2^nd Catherine Chambers – Miss Clover Over, 3^rd Stephen Gibson – Cavalier Knight, 4^th Amy Black – Lissangle Luxzavella

1.10 m: 1^st Stephen Gibson – Milford Cool Flyer, 2^nd Lucy Hanna – Spring Rumba, 3^rd Sarah Jane Alexander – I Am Legend, 4^th Catherine Chambers – Elysium Imp, 5^th Claire Doherty – Amigo VH Winkenshof Z, 6^th Markus Buser – Mullentine Par On, Claire O’Hara – Tiffcrum Penny, Amy Wilson – Vagabond, Beverley Caves – Ultimate Jack, Sean Nangle – Altrest, Victoria Brown – Cavalier Shadow, Sonya McAleer – Moortown Indy, Philip Gaw – Glasker Clover Girl

1.20 m: 1^st Ana Desmond – Rollover, 2^nd Rebecca Patterson – Crucio SR, 3^rd Suzanne Posnett – Carrickview Gin and Tonic, 4^th Victoria Brown – Cavalier Shadow, 5^th Suzanne Posnett – Karmijn, 6^th Sean Nangle – Altrest

1.30 m: 1^st Philip Gaw – Rocky Bond, 2^nd Suzanne Posnett – Cocos Mademoiselle, 3^rd Laura Brown – Zion Cruise, 4^th Tom Doherty – Intro-Link Larry, 5^th Tom Doherty – Vangelis, 6^th Suzanne Posnett – Butuela

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