The third qualifier for the Tattersalls Ireland Treo Eile Showing Pathway Series took place at the picturesque Enniskillen Horse & Pony Show at Castle Irvine Estate Necarne. Under the watchful eyes of judges Andrew Gardiner, Gordon Robinson and Emer Lawlor, five horses came forward in both the novice and open sections.
In the novice section, Ava Stubbs and Landue were the eventual winners. The 10-year-old by Champs Elysses, last raced in November 2023 when in training with R K Watson, was rehomed by Lana Cheney but after an unexpected injury at the back end of last year, Cheney’s niece Ava took over the reins. “I took on the ride with the expectation that Watson would mainly do dressage but I love jumping so I started doing some jumping with him after a while and he just loved it! He jumped in a Derby style class in Ash Hollow last month and we got on great so Lana and I decided that we would give Showing a try,” said Stubbs. Enniskillen Horse & Pony Show was only their second show together and they’ve been bitten by the bug, “We will aim for the Tattersalls July Show, he’s just taking it all in his stride and we are both growing in confidence each time out.”
Taking second place, and securing their ticket to the final at Iverk Show in August was Fiona Gerring and seven-year-old gelding Moon Over Claddagh. Previously trained by Henry de Bromhead, he ran five times on the flat before Gerring took over the reins. “Zoe Smalley who works in Henry’s phoned me and said he’d be perfect for me as he was too nice to be a racehorse!” Having lost her two dressage horses to illness at the back end of 2023, Gerring was waiting to see if she would get another horse. “I really didn’t know what I wanted to do but I was missing having horses around so I put the feelers out and Zoe called about him.” In only their first season showing, the aim is to qualify for the Dublin Horse Show but most importantly enjoy him, “he’s just amazing and has brought me out of a dark patch so for that reason he’s my heart and soul.”
In the open section, it was the Arctic Cosmos sired gelding Dontbegonelong that secured his place in the final with Edel Whyte. Already qualified for the Racehorse to Riding Horse Class at the Dublin Horse Show, this partnership has had a successful season to date. “I bought him in November of last year from Aubrey Chapman, he had run four times when he was trained by Liam Kenny in Wexford.” Whyte has taken her time to find the horse’s strengths, “he’s still figuring out his new career but he is a lovely model and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season with him with the bigger aim of eventing him in the future.” “He’ll head to the Longford Agricultural Show as it’s local to us and a bit special and then onto the Tattersalls July Show where I might aim him at the new Thoroughbred Performance Class.” Taking second place was Molly Byrne and the 10-year-old bay mare by Fast Company, Departures. Bred by Brian Duffy in Co Meath, the mare, owned now by Julie Edgar-Morris, ran five times on the flat and is on loan to Byrne. This combination previously finished third at the Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship Show last September.
Edel Whyte- Winners of the Open Tattersalls Ireland Treo Eile Showing Pathway Series qualifier at Enniskillen Horse & Pony Show
Full Results
Novice:
1st: Ava Stubbs & Landue
2nd: Fiona Gerring & Moon Over Claddagh
3rd: Molly Byrne & Departures
Open
1st: Edel Whyte & Don’t Be Gone Long
2nd: Molly Byrne & Departures
3rd: Kim Scott & Castle Ivers Diamond
4th: Fiona Gerring & Moon Over Claddagh
5th:Sarah McCombe & In Our Blood
The next qualifier takes place at Clonmel Show on July 6th and entries close on the 30th June. The series finale will take place at Iverk Show on 23rd August. Full details of the series can be found on www.treoeile.com
