Portmore Equestrian Centre held their annual autumn championship last week and despite the restrictions in place with Covid -19, the team still managed to pull off 4 days of fantastic jumping with great results.

The Portmore Autumn Championship was held over 4 days at the outstanding facilities of Portmore Equestrian Centre. The Portmore team worked hard to ensure the show continued to run, implementing new procedures and ensuring that everyone’s safety was top priority at all times. Stewards met competitors at the entrance gates, with temperature checks performed and confirmation of track and trace forms completed before being directed to a designated parking area. It was a strict no mask no entry rule, with stewards distributed throughout the venue enforcing social distancing. Hand sanitisers placed throughout the venue and strict no spectator rules were also enforced. Bluegrass Horse Feed representative Ashley Neely stated, “I was really impressed with all the safety measures in place, I felt safe at all times. It’s a strange time but great that with these strict procedures we can still carry on with shows like these”.

The four days saw some great jumping with tricky courses built by Colm Quinn and Rafael Suarez. Saturday evening held the Bluegrass Horse Feed 1.35 GP won by Jonathan Smyth on CAFRE Olympic Dream. The HSI Autumn Development Series 1.40m GP was the last class of the show on Sunday Evening, won by John McEntee riding CSF VINZE.

Championship Results:

1m Championship Class (Saturday 24^th October)

Tori Dunn – Bobby’s Womanizer

Danielle Kennedy – Demero

Patrick Ward – Ardnaglass

Erin Sweeney – Ebony Empress

Samuel Wilson – Castle Candy Clover

Barbara Cosgrove – HI d HI

1.10m Championship Class (Saturday 24^th October)

1^st Jonathan Creswell – Ember

2^nd Charlotte Harding – Crossmaglen Bandit

3^rd Jonathan Creswell – Lenamore Nelson

4^th Mackenzie Healy – Mr Easy Street

5^th Luke Campbell – Omard Sunrise Beach

6^th Sophie Adrain – Gonad

4yr old Championship Class Sponsored by Nutts Corner Boarding Kennels (Saturday 24^th October)

1^st Stacey Watling – Cordiamo

2^nd Darren Irwin – Tangelo de Muze

3^rd Catherine Thornton – RNH Coco Chanel

4^th James Flaherty – Derrycastle Heartbeat

5^th Dean Bell – Covehill Charlie

6^th Stacey Watling – Corthago

1.20m Speed Championship Class Sponsored by Ballymoss Stud (Saturday 24^th October)

1^st Olivia Roulston – Avalent

2^nd Tori Dunn – Brookville Lux

3^rd Frank Curran – Oliver Twist

4^th Sophie Dunn – Strawberry Passion

5^th Nicholas Bothwell – HHS Cheers

6^th Nicholas Bothwell – Always on My Mind

1.35m Autumn Grand Prix Sponsored by Bluegrass Horse Feed (Saturday 24^th October)

1^st Jonathan Smyth – CAFRE Olympic Dream

2^nd Yvonne Whiteside – Ecclesville

3^rd Brendan Murphy – Immun Ocean Ogara

4^th Brendan Murphy – Farno D’or

5^th Sven Hadley – Neat Midnight Magic

6^th Mackenzie Healy – Domar Van De Neerheide

1.20m Championship Class Sponsored by DB Tiles & Bathrooms (Sunday 25^th October)

1^st Sven Hadley – Topspin

2^nd Megan McGrettigan – Ballinamurra Eargon

3^rd Clare Abbot – Mis Matana

4^th Tori Dunn – Sumas Taloubet

5^th Niamh McEvoy – LMD Douglas Swatch

6^th Teaghain Eammon Burns – Mirdads Jebreeel

5yr old Championship Class Sponsored by Abbey Upholsterers (Sunday 25^th October)

1^st Luke Campbell – Kruser DHH

2^nd Gabriel Tunney – Candy Wonder Boy

3^rd Edward Little – Drumiller Daytona

4^th Stacey Watling – Kan Niet Mooier Gr

5^th Kenneth Graham – Kilmac VL

6^th Stacey Watling – Falco De Vesquerie

6/7yr old Championships Sponsored by North West Farriers (Sunday 25^th October)

1^st Daniel Coyle – Onanka-A

2^nd Sean Monaghan – BLM Europa Diamond

3^rd Aoife Owens – Omard Connery

4^th Danial Coyle – Once Upon a Time J&F Champblanc

5^th Emma McEntee – MHS New York

6^th Stacey Watling – Kittens

1.40m Autumn Grand Prix Sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland (Sunday 25^th October)

1^st John McEntee – CSF VINZE

2^nd Frank Curran – Ardragh Chekoff

3^rd Philip Gaw – Ardnacashel Coovella

4^th Kenneth Graham – Beir Bua

5^th Kenneth Graham – George

6^th Brendan Murphy – Farno D’or