Tattersalls July Show was the deciding round in the TRM/HSI New Heights Champion Series as to which two combinations would win their place to compete in the international classes at the Dublin Horse Show. Dermott Lennon and Gelvins Touch went into Tattersalls on ten points. A win on the day left Lennon sharing poll position with Greg Broderick and Duco. Both combinations will now go to the Dublin Horse Show.

Irish Sport Horses were well represented, filling the top six places. 35 riders went to post and from those, nine contested the second round. The only double clear of the class was delivered by Lennon in a time of 43.19 seconds.

Owned by Victoria Loane Gelvins Touch is a 12 year-old gelding by Touchdown and out of the Diamond Lad sired dam, Whitestown Diamond. A half-brother, Patronus (by Cobra) is currently being campaigned by Leah Stack in the young rider ranks, while another half-brother Hollypark Galloway (by Castlelawn Galloway) is jumping on the circuit with Tim McDonagh. All were bred by John Mccann from Roscommon.

Second place went to Greg Broderick and BP Hybernia. They jumped clear in the first round but had one down in the second round. Bred by Doctor Noel Cawley and owned by GBBS International LTD, the eight-year-old gelding is by Flexible and out of the Cloverhill sired dam, Ballinakill Clover. BP Hybernia’s half-sister by Cruising, Golden Exchange, went on to compete on the international circuit at the highest level with Broderick.

A slightly slower time and a fence down left Peter Smyth and CHS Krooze in third. This eight-year-old mare is by Kroongraff and out of the Cruising sired mare, Cruise Oak. Bred by Vincent O’Callaghan from Clare, the mare in 2016 won the six-year-old ‘Cruising’ National Championship in Dublin Horse Show.

GRC Acapella ridden by Gemma Phelan came fourth. Bred and owned by Rory Costigan, the eight year-old gelding is by Luidam and out of the Aldato sired, Ballydoolagh Amiee Sunrise.

Darragh Ryan and the 11-year-old Harold McGahern-bred Rincoola Ryan accounted for fifth. Another Irish Bred horse, Dollanstown, took sixth place with Captain Geoff Curran.

SJI National Grand Prix

On Saturday 75 combinations battled it out in the Underwriting Exchange sponsored SJI National Grand Prix. The Tom Holden-designed course produced an eight-horse jump-off and from that there were six double clears.

Dermott Lennon lodged his first National Grand Prix win of the year with MJM Pursuit, jumping clear in a time of 36.41. Bred by Cyril Ferguson and owned by MJM (IOM) Holdings Limited, MJM Pursuit is a nine-year-old mare by Aldato (KWPN) and out of a Limmerick mare, Mountain Mist.

Slotting into second place and claiming the leading young rider prize was Michael Pender riding HHS Burnchurch (ISH).Owned by Marion Hughes, the eight-year-old mare comes from an impressive breeding line, which has worked well for the Hughes family in the past. She is by Heritage Fortunus and out of the Cavalier Royale sired mare, China Cavalier.

Geoff Curran and Carnlea finished third. This eight-year-old gelding (Ars Vivendi) was bred by Michael Quirke. In fourth was Peter Smyth with the 11-year-old Varo-sired Roscrib de Ross.

Greg Broderick and Dabelle filled fifth place. Completing the top six line-up was Kenneth Graham riding the 10-year-old stallion The Democrat.