Glenshane Dandy is supreme champion

The show started with the in-hand classes which saw Gareth Bailie winning the Welsh Section C Class with Brynseion Medallion. James Cleland’s Budore Joseph and Budore Sir Percy claimed first and second prizes respectively in the Welsh Section D Class.

The Welsh In-Hand Champion was won by Budore Joseph with Reserve Champion going to Budore Sir Percy.

The In-Hand Hackney Class was won by James Cleland’s Glenshane Dandy, who also took the Champion title.

The Hackney In-Harness classes followed the In-Hand Classes. In the Novice Hackney Pony In-Harness Fregie Bingham’s Stapleford Director was placed first with Thomas Magill’s Stapleford Spirit taking second. The Novice Hackney Horse In-Harness was won by Leslie Hazlett’s Glenside Arizona with Brian Stewart’s Noddyvyse Grand Parade placed second.

The Novice Hackney In-Harness Champion going to Fergie Bingham’s Stapleford Director and Novice Hackney In-Harness Reserve Champion to Leslie Hazlett’s Glenside Arizona.

James Cleland’s Glenshane Dandy was placed first in the Open Hackney Horse In-Harness Class and also collected the Open Hackney In-Harness Champion title. Leslie Hazlett’s Glenside Arizona was placed second in the Open Hackney Horse In-Harness Class and took the Open Hackney In-Harness Reserve Champion.

The Hackney In-Harness Section was rounded off with the Hackney Driven By A Lady Whip Class, which was won by Fergie Bingham’s Stapleford Director driven by Deborah Armstrong.

In the Novice Pony class Brynseion Medallion, driven by Gareth Bailie, took the first prize. The Exercise Vehicle Any Height class was won by Thomas Magill’s Sunburst Boy, who also declared Champion. Brynseion Medallion, driven by Gareth Bailie, took second prize and was the Reserve Champion.

Brynseion Medallion made his final appearance of the day in the Lady Whip class, this time ably driven by Natasha Burns to collect the first prize.

The show was concluded with Supreme Champion of the Show being awarded to James Cleland’s Hackney Horse Glenshane Dandy.

Speaking after the event, a spokesman said: “The Irish Hackney Horse Society, would like to take this opportunity to thank our judge, the exhibitors, stewards, show organising committee, carpark attendances and supporters. Without your hard work and dedication our annual show would not have been possible.

“We were delighted with the attention to detail with which the Judge Mr Malcolm Salter from Nottinghamshire paid to each exhibitor, with many of the exhibitors commenting that Salter had taken time to explain his decision and provide feedback on their turnout.

“Mr Salter is experienced as a Judge being on the Judges Panel of both the Hackney Horse Society and the British Driving Society; and as an exhibitor has qualified and competed for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show on multiple occasions.

“The IHHS Annual show is one of only two qualifying shows in Ireland for the Hackney Horse Society’s Hackney Horse and Pony Of The Year, the other being The Royal Ulster Agricultural Society’s Balmoral Show at Balmoral Park. The IHHS Annual Show is organised primarily to promote the Hackney Horse and Hackney Pony, both of which are listed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust on its critically endangered list (this means there is less than 300 registered breeding females).

“We were delighted with the number and quality of the turnouts at this year’s show in spite of the inclement weather conditions.”