By Horse Sport Ireland / HSI
Photography: © Laurence Dunn/Jumpinaction
The 2024 Foal Championship funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and delivered by Horse Sport Ireland, commenced with its first of four qualifiers in September at JAG Equestrian in Co. Kildare and concluded at the end of October with its grand final in Emerald Equestrian Centre, Co. Meath.
There were also qualifiers in Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre in Co. Galway, Kernan’s Equestrian Centre in Co. Armagh and Maryville Stables in Co. Cork.
Some of Ireland’s top foals were on display in the qualifiers with foals being selected in five categories for Pony Showjumping, Pony Eventing, Horse Eventing, Horse Showjumping and a section for Traditional Irish Breeding. The Foal Championship aims to identify, evaluate, and reward breeders who have bred a foal that has the potential showjumping or eventing.
The first qualifier for the 2024 Foal Championship took place in JAG EC, Co Kildare, with 31 entries in total for judges for Emily McMahon and Mairead Ryan; 19 fillies and 11 colts. Of these 31 entries, 11 took part in the Pony sections of eventing (five) and showjumping (six), with 20 taking part in the horse sections, eventing (nine) and showjumping (11).
The second qualifier for the 2024 Foal Championship took place in Kernans EC, Co Armagh, with 28 entries; 14 fillies and 14 colts. Of these, 10 took part in the Pony sections of eventing (six) and showjumping (four), and 18 took part in the horse sections, eventing (nine) and showjumping (nine). On judging duty for the day was Jack Doyle and Nicola Ennis.
The penultimate qualifier for the 2024 Foal Championship took place in Glenamaddy EC, Co Galway, with 32 entries; 15 fillies and 17 colts. Of these, 14 took part in the Pony sections of eventing (three) and showjumping (11), and 18 took part in the horse sections, eventing (eight) and showjumping (10) where Damien Griffin and Tim MacDonagh were judging for the day.
The concluding qualifier for the 2024 Foal Championship took place in Maryville Stables, Co Cork where judges Michael Hutchinson and Maurice Coleman had a field of 24 entries in total; seven fillies and 17 colts. Of these, nine took part in the Pony sections of eventing (seven) and showjumping (three), and 15 took part in the horse sections, eventing (10) and showjumping (five).
The final for the 2024 Foal Championship, and inaugural final for loose jumping, took place at Emerald Equestrian Centre, Co Kildare on Thursday, October 24. This fantastic initiative is funded under National Breeding Services by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Twenty foals and 12 fillies competed in their respective categories for the coveted champion titles. One foal in each section of the Horse and Pony qualifiers were selected to compete at the final in Emerald.
The Foal championships kicked off with the Eventing Ponies for judges Nicky Roncoroni, and young event horse producer and multiple Irish Olympic Event rider, Sarah Ennis. The title was taken by Jackie Hockley’s Carnakilly Noble Man (CP), by Carnakilly Mac Guire (CP), out of Carnakilly Coral (CP) who is by Dexter Leam Pondi (CP) who qualified at the second qualifier in Kernan’s Equestrian Centre. Second place was for Michael O’Sullivan’s colt by Fast & Furious Second Life Z (Z) out of Ballyvee Belle (ISP) by Cyklon Texass (PZHK) who won the qualifier in Maryville Stables in Co. Cork. In third place was Pat Lynch’s Donaghmore Shooting Star (CP), by Abbeyfield (CP), out of Pinegrove Suzy (CP), by Seoigeach (CP). This foal won the qualifier in Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre in Co. Galway at the third of the four qualifying events... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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