Symphony – A harmony of sounds.
Harmony was exactly the partnership between the Kieran and Mairead Ryan owned Symphony and Claire Gilna that saw them being crowned Hunter Champion in the RED MILLS Hunter Champion of Champions Final at the National Horse and Pony Championship Show in Killossery Lodge on Saturday 7th August. In a hotly contested final where thirteen combinations came forward from 10 qualifying shows across the country it was Symphony, a seven year old bay mare by Castleforbes Lord Lancer and Claire Gilna who impressed ride judge Leah Kent and confirmation judge Jane Bradbury the most to be crowned RED MILLS Hunter Champion of Champions.
Nine four-year-olds were represented in the final. It was the apply named small hunter Made to Measure produced by Nicola Perrin and ridden by Ciara Mullen who came out on top. The pint-sized grey of unknown breeding stood out from the crowd to take take top honours of highest placed four year old.
It was a lucrative afternoon for Nicola Perrin. Earlier in the day Nicola and the Claire McDonnell owned For Love were crowned RED MILLS Ridden Horse Champion of Champions. The daughter of For Pleasure had a successful showing campaign, claiming no less than 3 champion sashes and qualification spots on her road to the final.
Meanwhile in the hotly contested RED MILLS Amateur Champion of Champions Final The Duchess of Allen and Alva Gunne pulled out all the stops to ensure they were crowned RED MILLS Amateur Champion of Champions. The 9 year old daughter of Rosheen Yeats stood top of a very impressive line-up. The amateur qualification spots were in high demand all summer with several qualifying shows having to split their classes due to high number of entrants.
Hunter Champion
Horse: Symphony
Age: 7
Sire Castleforbes Lord Lancer
Dam: Kylebrack Rebel
Owner: Kieran and Mairead Ryan
Rider: Claire Gilna
Breeder: John Murphy
Top 4yo
Horse: Made to Measure
Age: 4
Sire: Unknown
Dam: Unknown
Owner: Keith and Kate Boyce
Rider: Ciara Mullen
Breeder: Unknown
Ridden Horse Champion
Horse: For Love
Age: 5
Sire: For Pleasure
Dam: Annapurna
Owner: Claire McDonnell
Rider: Nicola Perrin
Breeder: Claire McDonnell
Amateur Champion
Horse: The Duchess of Allen
Age: 9
Sire: Rosheen Yeats
Dam: Lady Lucky Time
Owner: Orla Harrington
Rider: Alva Gunne
Breeder: Fintan Flannelly
Hunter Championship Results
Champion – Symphony and Claire Gilna
2nd – Killycloghan Rustic Times and Nicola Perrin
3rd and Top 4yo – Made to Measure and Ciara Mullen
4th – Ballarin Fionn and Marleese Cary
5th – Assagart Angel and Jennifer Kennedy
6th – Quality Choice and Lesley Jones
Ridden Horse Championship Results
Champion – For Love and Nicola Perrin
2nd – Peaky Blinder and Brian Murphy
3rd – Gortfree Lakeside Lad and Linda Murphy
4th – Gortfree Rocky and Jane Davis
5th – Sizing Australia and Nicki Russell
6th – Ballydarton and Willie Corrigan
Amateur Championship Results
Champion – The Duchess of Allen and Alva Gunne
2nd – Shanbally Ronaldo and Kerry Finlay
3rd – Fred Showtime and Louise Kavanagh
4th – Prince of Diamonds and Suzanne O’Brien
5th – Mr. Bloomfield and Lyndsey O’Brien
6th – Ballinalacken Boy and Caroline Davis
