Pictures- Local riders show class at Balmoral

Three Kilkenny riders placed in the top six out of 36 participants in the Longines Ranking Grand Prix at the 154th Balmoral Show which took place recently.

Seamus Hughes Kennedy (20) from Danesfort won the 1.45m Horse Sport Ireland and Bottlegreen Grand Prix at Balmoral, riding Esi Ali. The eight-year-old gelding Esi Ali is owned by his mother Clare Hughes.

Susan Fitzpatrick from Keatingstown Stud is no stranger to success in the international arena. She came third, riding Miss Paris, owned by Manny O'Hara.

Up and coming young rider, 15-year-old James Brennan from Gowran finished sixth, with a home-bred gelding MHS Im The One.

Meanwhile, following success the previous weekend, Aoife Brennan (age 11) from Ballyfoyle and her new pony Rohson Annwyl Eto won big at the Northern Ireland Festival and Balmoral Show also.

Together they won the Overall Reserve Supreme Mini Pony, Reserve Champion Working Hunter Mini Pony, as well as the Champion Ridden Mini Pony of the show.

With big entries and tough competition from all over Ireland, Aoife also went on to win a big open 133cm Show Hunter Pony Ridden class on her other pony Goldengrove Sunrise. Kilkenny’s Aoife was the youngest in the class up against very experienced riders and tough competition.