Tattersalls Ireland Showing Pathway Series: a real success story with hot competition for the final at the Royal Meath Show
THE Tattersalls Ireland Treo Eile Showing Pathway Series provided another great year of competition as combinations competed in eight qualifiers to try to secure their spot in the final which took place at the Royal Meath Show in September. Tattersalls Ireland and Treo Eile are both dedicated to promoting the development and re-training of thoroughbreds and the Showing Pathway Series is an exciting opportunity to showcase the potential of former racehorses as successful riding horses. With qualifiers spread throughout the island, thoroughbreds around Ireland were given a great opportunity to put their best foot
forward to try earn their spot in the final.
The Qualifiers
The first qualifier took place at the Sceilig Showing Festival late May where Sizing John made his debut in the showing ring a winning one by winning the Novice Section under the guidance of Kate Harrington.
Taking second place in this section was Loaded and Alice Fitzgerald. In the Open section, Hit the Tar and Vinny Phelan booked their ticket to the final by taking the win ahead of My Lord Marty and Maria Blomen.
Glandoran Island Summer Festival played host to the next qualifier just two weeks later where Chubbi Chekker and Rebecca McIntyre swept the boards winning both the Novice and Open sections. Step Forward and Kate Preston took second place in the Novice section and Mickah Wallace and Stephanie McGlynn took second in the Open Section.
Mullingar Showing Show of the Year hosted the next qualifier and it was there where Cry of the Dreamer and Patricia Newman fought off hot competition to take one of the golden tickets. This partnership did the double and won the R2R Working Hunter Class at the same show. Helpisontheway and Cathy Sayers also earned their place in the final taking second place.
The Open division was won by Vanity Flair and Aileen Dwyer. They followed this up with 5th place in the Large Riding Horse class at the Dublin Horse Show.
Another combination who had a successful summer, is previously mentioned, Mickah Wallace and Stephanie McGlynn who took the second ticket. In what can only be described as a “red letter year”, Mickah Wallace and Stephanie were crowned Overall Show Horse Champion at Dundalk Show, All Ireland Champion at Tullow Agricultural Show as well as third place in the ITM Racehorse to Riding Horse class at the Dublin Horse Show.
The first weekend in July all roads were leading to Clonmel Show for the next chance to book their ticket to the final . Tiffany’s Gold and Jane Davis were too good to beat in the Novice Section with Loaded and Alice Fitzgerald taking another second place. It’s tough to win one qualifier but Vanity Flair and Aileen Dwyer were good enough to do the double and take the win in the Open Section at Clonmel Show adding to their previous success. Taking second place here was Iskandar Prince and Lois Chappell.
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Jane Davis and Tiffanys Gold at Clonmel Show
At the halfway point of the qualifiers things were heating. Ardrahan Show provided the venue for the next qualifier and where Bonita Bay and Carolann Dowling stood top of the line up to the ever-consistent Loaded and Alice Fitzgerald.
The Open section saw last year’s Racehorse to Riding Horse Champion from the Dublin Horse Show take the top spot – General Principle and Seainin Mahon booked their ticket to the final with Woodland Opera and Jamie Buckley finishing in second place also headed for the final.
With Tattersalls Ireland being the sponsor of the Showing Pathway Series, it was fitting that one of the qualifiers was held at the Tattersalls Ireland July Show. The Novice Class saw a whopping 25 ex-racers stride out with Kinsau and Sofie Walshe taking home the prize. Home Farm and Sarah Gayer were hot on their heels to book their ticket in second place.
The rain could not dampen the spirits of Milliner and Phillipa Scott as they stood top of the line in the Open Section. Following on from their success previously in the series, Sizing John and Kate Harrington were second. This proved to be the perfect warm-up for Sizing John as he went on to win the ITM Racehorse to Riding Horse class at the Dublin Horse Show.
The next stop of the qualifier tour was at the Randox Antrim Agricultural Show. Randox is a loyal supporter of Treo Eile through their sponsorship of the training clinic series. It was Sharon Carolan and Masterson who took the top spot in the Novice Section ahead of Catriona Bolger and Feel My Pulse.
In the open section Jennifer Fitzpatrick and I’ll Be Bach stood top of the line up. Megan Matthews and Tadgh nabbed the other qualifying ticket and booked their spot in the final.
With just a week to go before the final there was just one last chance for competitors to get qualified at the Iverk Show, which took place on the last weekend of August. Sarah Neville and Limekiln Rock booked their place in the final by taking the win in the Novice Section. Jenny Murphy and Raz de Maree finished a close second and subsequently secured them a place in the final.
Lynn Sheehy and Verbier Flyer won the open section from Rebecca McIntyre and Chubbi Chekker.
The Final
The arrival of the late summer sun was the icing on the cake for what was already going to be an exciting final of the series at the Royal Meath Show. A great crowd turned out to watch the finalists being put through their paces. The difficult job was left in the capable hands of Kevin McGuinness and Sandra Fox – both of whom commented on the quality of the horses put before them on the day.
The winners of the Open final were Milliner and Phillipa Scott. Phillipa and Milliner got their golden ticket to the final after wowing the judges at the Tattersalls July Show. Milliner is a 10-year-old bay gelding by Goldwell ex Carthanoora. He ran six times for Henry De Bromhead, winning once over hurdles.
Second place went to Mickah Wallace and Stephanie McGlynn, (who had already been in the winner’s enclosure earlier in the day, winning their section of another Thoroughbred Show class and subsequently winning the championships – talk about a red letter day!). These placings follow on from their Third place at the Dublin Horse Show.
The winners of the Novice Section were Kinsau and Charlotte Walshe, who qualified in Tattersalls July Show. KINSAU is a 2009 gelding by Indian Danehill – Adonia, by Beneficial (bred by Sean Reilly). Pulled up
on his sole start in a five-year-old geldings’ maiden at Tinahely in January 2014 when trained by Ciaran Murphy. Taking the runner up spot was Tiffany’s Gold and Jane Davis who qualified Clonmel Agricultural Show. We had Robert Power representing Tattersalls Ireland presenting the prizes to our winners.
Without Tattersalls Ireland’s support it would not have been possible to run such a successful series and we are already looking forward to next year. It was an exciting end to what has been a brilliant series which has had competitors from all over the country trying to get their hands on a ticket to the final.
We have enjoyed the excellent showmanship and quality of thoroughbreds being presented at all the qualifiers and we hope to see them all out again next year!
