Ladies Lead The Way At Connell Hill’s Amateur of the Year Show

The battling ground commenced on Saturday with the Power & Speed 90 cm class, kindly sponsored by Martin Wilson Clare Trailers, with these early birds setting the standard for the day and as each rider took this challenge the excitement grew and grew with leader Dean Cotton, from Cookstown, on his speed merchant ‘Coolda Castaway’ getting nipped at the post for poll position by Grace McGarry, from Ballycastle, who pulled out all the stops and ran away with first place on her own gelding ‘Tutankhamun’ and it was Jim Maneely, from Dungannon, with his gelding ‘Leo’ who stood third.  Julie Steele, from Coleraine, on her own gelding, was awarded a hamper sponsored by Mother Bee for the highest placed new combination standing fourth place in this class.  The course was then quickly adjusted for the Masters class sponsored by Clarman & Co.Architects, Jim Maneely, and once again the venue came alive with the anticipation of jumping to win.  This time it was Catherine Chambers, from Newtownards, on her own mare, ‘Elysium Imp’ who proudly stood on the no.1 position of the podium, with Lisa Doyle, travelling up from Co. Carlow, with her gelding ‘Corland’s Clipper who stood second and local girl Catherine Drain, from Antrim, with her own gelding who took the third position of the podium.  Prize winners made their laps of honour to the Horse of the Year Show theme tune with the overall winner heroically galloping a lap to the Black Beauty theme tune Galloping Home.  TRI Equestrian sponsored the final class for Saturday the Grand Prix class and what a way to end the day with competition literally exploding and an all male podium which was Paul Tarpey, all the way from Co. Galway, with his gelding ‘Craobh Cassanova’ triumphantly take the poll position, Joe Clinton, making the journey from Co. Dublin, with his mare ‘Sky Starlet’ graciously standing second and proudly taking the third position on the podium was Joe Harris, slightly closer to home, from Warringstown, with his gelding ‘Coppindell Concorde.

Receiving Best Turned Out for the day was Shiek Samir Mirdad, travelling from his Ireland residence of Co. Louth.

This extremely fun filled day had prizes galore and as Lisa Doyle and husband Brendan spent their first wedding anniversary at Connell Hill they received a spot prize; to which a Special note of thanks to TRI Equestrian for the massive sponsorship of Prizes, Rugs, goodie bags and vouchers and all sponsors is extended.

Sunday exploded into action with the Power & Speed class, kindly sponsored by BarrTec and with the sun rays bouncing of the brightly coloured fences Dean Cotton a sponsor in this show Turco Central Heating System Cookstown, set a very early unbeatable time with his gelding ‘Coolda Castaway’ with Jim Maneely, also a sponsor Clarman & Co. Architects Dungannon, taking the second podium position with his gelding ‘Leo’ and Joe Clinton from Co. Dublin, with his mare ‘Sky Starlet’ taking the third position on the podium.  Aisling Donoghue, from Co. Donegal, with her gelding ‘Lenamore Santa Fe’ received a spot prize for Best Newcomer to the Amateur circuit with Colleen Glasgow, from Cookstown, also receiving a special prize for being the highest placed lady with her gelding ‘Turlough Cavalier Clover’.  So with the welcome class of the day over the light hearted banter began as competitors warmed up for the Five Bar Speed and Power sponsored by Turco Central Heating System (The Cotton Family).  And once again snatching first place was none other than Dean Cotton with, yes, ‘Coolda Castaway’ and majestically standing second place on the podium was Sheikh Samir Mirdad on his mare ‘Mirdads Hubbb Alrahmaaan’ with Lisa Doyle, not letting the men take all the glory, proudly stood third with her gelding ‘Corland’s Clipper.  And so after this fierce competition there was a short break in proceedings for a little novelty fun which saw defending champions Paddy Ward and Margaret Fullerton do it once again and pick up their awards for ‘Rear of the Year’.  During this break the arena crew set to work on building the course for the Final class, The Derby kindly sponsored by Clanrye Lighting Supplies Newry, of this exciting weekend where the pressure mounted as riders pulled out all the stops and jumped like they never jumped before aiming at a last ditch attempt to take the poll position on the podium.  With Frances Mellet, from Aghadowey Jazz Sport Horses, claiming victory on her mare ‘Unknown Territory’ Jim Maneely, from Dungannon Clarman & Co. Architects, at his debut derby, nobly stand second place with his gelding ‘Legga Chocolate’ with a very distinguished third place on the podium for Catherine Chambers with her mare ‘Miss Clover Over’.  So with jumping contests over it was time to name the Leading Riders of the show which saw Ladies Lead the Way with Colleen Glasgow, from Cookstown Co. Tyrone picking up the ‘A’ section and Lisa Doyle, from Hacketstown Co. Carlow, picking up the ‘AA’ section, well done to not just these award winners but to each and every competitor for their contention.

 

Connell Hill and event organisers Julie McLernon, Alistair Barr and Colleen Glasgow would like to take this opportunity and thank sponsors, who are an invaluable asset and a vital contribution to the success and future of equine shows, Baek Enterprise Ltd, Baileys Horse Feed, Barrtec, Burton Sport Horses, Clanrye Lighting Supplies Newry, Clare Trailers, Clarman & Co. Architects, Clonkeen Equestrian, The Drain Family, Colleen Glasgow, Holestone Farmers Bloodhounds, James Mawhinney Blacksmith, Jazz Sport Horses, Keith Dinsmore Accountancy, Liam McGarry Fabrications, M&J Geddis Pawnbrokers, Mother Bee, North Galway Hunt, Philip Gaw Furniture Restoration, The Fulton Family, The Ramble Inn, TRI Equestrian, Turco Engineering/Central Heating Systems (The Cotton Family) for their much appreciated sponsorship all of whom would not have made this event the success it was.

Thanks must also go to Judges David Greene, Eavan White and Julie McLernon, Course Designer Colm Quinn, Photographer Jim Kells, arena crew, staff and all competitors, grooms and spectators for their help in making this show the huge success it was.

 

RESULTS

 

Saturday 12^th September

Power & Speed; Sponsored by Clare Trailers, Martin Wilson:

 

1^st Grace McGarry – Tutankhamun, 2^nd Dean Cotton – Coolda Castaway, 3^rd Jim Maneely – Leo (Ger), =4^th Julie Steele – Wellview Lenny, Kathryn King – Colonel Gun, 6^th Kathryn King – Skewberry, 7^th Colleen Glasgow – Turlough Cavalier Clover, 8^th Jane Kealey – Layla’s Romeo, 9^th Shirley Smyth – Jailhouse Rock, 10^th Lisa Doyle – Corland’s Clipper, 11^th Joe Clinton – Sky Starlet, 12^th Fiona Thompson – Curolea Roni, 13^th Aisling Donoghue – Lenamore Santa Fe, 14^th Fiona Thompson – My Golden Wonder, 15^th Karen Greer – Double Bay, 16^th Jim Maneely – Madame Porsche at Cranny, 17^th Barbara Henderson – Watersides Archer, 18^th Colleen Glasgow – Euro Double Act, 19^th Roisin Hughes – Roxborough Golden Echo, 20^th Barbara Henderson – Ballynakilly Brook, 21^st Amy Munroe – Dunmore Prince

 

Masters; Sponsored by Clarman & Co. Architects, Jim Maneely:

 

1^st Catherine Chambers – Elysium Imp, 2^nd Lisa Doyle – Corland’s Clipper, 3^rd Catherine Drain – Alaska-M, 4^th Stephanie Scullion – Tease Me Tiger, 5^th Alison McLean – Shilow Natal, 6^th Caroline Black – Rathfilane Star, 7^th Paul Tarpey – Craobh Cassanova, 8^th Sarah McLean – Diamond Obelix, 9^th Philip White – Larredo, 10^th Sheikh Samir Mirdad – Uraeus

 

Grand Prix; Sponsored by TRI Equestrian:

 

1^st Paul Tarpey – Craobh Cassanova, 2^nd Joe Clinton – Sky Starlet, 3^rd Joe Harris – Coppindell Concorde, 4^th Lisa Doyle – Corland’s Clipper, 5^th Julie Steele – Wellview Lenny, 6^th Anthea Moffett – Pumba S

 

Sunday 13^th September

Power & Speed; Sponsored by BarrTec

 

1^st Dean Cotton – Coolda Castaway, 2^nd Jim Maneely – Leo (ger), 3^rd Joe Clinton – Sky Starlet, 4^th Colleen Glasgow – Turlough Cavalier Clover, 5^th Sheikh Samir Mirdad – Uraeus, 6^th Jim Maneely – Legga Chocolate, 7^th Aisling Donoghue – Lenamore Santa Fe, 8^th Karen Greer – Double Bay, 9^th Lorraine Lyttle – Coolas, 10^th Sarah Kinnear – Dstud Midget Gem

 

Speed & Power; Sponsored by Turco Central Heating System (The Cotton Family)

 

1^st Dean Cotton – Coolda Castaway, 2^nd Sheikh Samir Mirdad – Mirdads Hubbb Alrahmaaan, 3^rd Lisa Doyle – Corland’s Clipper, 4^th Colleen Glasgow – Lakeview Cancun Diamond, 5^th Stephanie Scullion – Tease Me Tiger, 6^th Catherine Drain – Alaska-M

 

Derby; Sponsored by Clanrye Lighting Supplies, Newry

 

1^st Francis Mellet – Unknown Territory, 2^nd Jim Maneely – Legga Chocolate, 3^rd Catherine Chambers – Miss Clover Over, 4^th Sarah McLean – Diamond Obelix, 5^th Lisa Doyle – Corland’s Clipper

 

 

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Category: News, Results, Show Jumping