IDHS holds annual general meeting

Members of the Irish Draught Horse Society in Norther Ireland collected awards for their most successful Irish Draught animals of the year at the recent AGM. (l to r) Tom McGuigan (Chairman), Kathryn Knox (Performance Highly Commended), Wendy Bell (on behalf of Grace Irwin's Yearling), Kenny Bell (Younghorse), Charlotte Moore (Foal and Broodmare), Robert and Jane Huey (Performance) and Amanda Wright (Performance Highly Commended).

During the evening chairman Tom McGuigan presented the annual awards to members who competed successfully during the past year.

Broodmare of the year was awarded to Charlotte and Nigel Moore’s home bred mare Tullys Valley by Crosstown Dancer out of Tullys Triumph, whose filly foal by Skip and Sea was the foal of the year.

The award for the leading yearling was won by Grace Irwin’s Dinstown Country Girl by Coolcronan Wood out of Derrynasaggart Queen and bred by Kevin Robinson.

Kenny and Wendy Bell’s homebred filly Castleview Farmers Lady by Tors Gentleman Farmer out of Castleview Princess collected the award for young horse of the year.

The most hotly contested section was for the performance Irish Draught Horse of the year which was won by Jane and Robert Huey’s Tullys Sasha, a mare by Creevagh Grey Rebel out of Tullys Valley. She was second in the Performance Irish a draught class at the RDS and has been competing successfully in eventing, achieving silver merit in the Irish Draught studbook.

Two other animals who performed consistently throughout the year were highly commended. Braeview Codega, owned and competed by Kathryn Knox, and bred by Padraig McKernan, a mare by Flagmount Clover Diamond out of Dernahatten Pearl. Dungar Quick Silver, owned by Mark Dobbin and Amanda Wright, and bred by John Corbett, a mare by Fast Silver out of Dungar Park Lady, was competed by David O’Connor.

Highlights of the past year for the society included organising a show at Dirraw Farm, supporting the performance Irish Draught classes which graduated into the main arena at the RUAS show at Balmoral Park, welcoming a good number of folks to participate in pleasure rides and continuing to support Irish Draught classes at local shows.