As the weather in Ireland continues to cause cancellation of shows, the competition heats up with more and more making their bid for qualififcation for what promises to be a fabulous show in Belfast in October this year.

The third qualifier for the Northern Ireland International Horse Show was held in Sunday at Barnadown in Gorey, County Wexford who thankfully have two excellent all weather surfaced arenas allowing the qualifying classes to be held despite the lashing rain with intermittent sunshine which turned the place into an pen air steam room throughout the day!

People were dashing for cover and umbrella's were up and down all day but those who came, and there were plenty, were determined to qualify over the Brian Henry tracks for horses and the Raymond Jess and Fred Guthrie Amateur and Pony tracks.

The standard for the National classes will be as high as the standard of the International rings in Belfast as the calibre of both horses and riders will see the cream of Irish riders and horses.

Irish Olympic rider, Marion Hughes was at Barnadown with a swag of lovely young horses and she "thoroughly enjoyed the day's jumping - the efficient management and well designed courses have added to the competition. I attended the 2006 Northern Ireland International Show and will definitely be there again this year - the promise is for bigger and better and the acts announced will be sure to love up to pledge."

In the Amateur class, Enda Ivanoff from Gorey, County Wexford, ranked first on Clone Colour, pleasing the home crowd. He wasn't the only local hero - five of the eight classes were won by riders from Wexford and Wicklow, with the other qualifying riders from all corners of Ireland. Paraic Kenny also from Gorey, won the 128AB class on Another Razcal - he achieved second place on Dan's Hill, the horse which he qualified on at Dundalk and also rode at Mullingar. The 138AB class was won by Jonjo Bright from Templepatrick, County Antrim, on Light and Lively. Following on from second place at Mullingar, Caoimhe Kenny from Gorey, won the 148AB class on Frere Jacques.

Kate Keohane from Ennis, County Clare, gained first and third place on Cavaliers Lady Flight and Vis A Vis respectively in the 1.10m class, with John Mulvey from Brittas Bay, County Wicklow, on Igo-Two placed second.

In the Amateur class, Enda Ivanoff from Gorey, County Wexford, ranked first on Clone Colour, pleasing the home crowd. He wasn't the only local hero - five of the eight classes were won by riders from Wexford and Wicklow, with the other qualifying riders from all corners of Ireland. Paraic Kenny also from Gorey, won the 128AB class on Another Razcal - he achieved second place on Dan's Hill, the horse which he qualified on at Dundalk and also rode at Mullingar. The 138AB class was won by Jonjo Bright from Templepatrick, County Antrim, on Light and Lively. Following on from second place at Mullingar, Caoimhe Kenny from Gorey, won the 148AB class on Frere Jacques.

Kate Keohane from Ennis, County Clare, gained first and third place on Cavaliers Lady Flight and Vis A Vis respectively in the 1.10m class, with John Mulvey from Brittas Bay, County Wicklow, on Igo-Two placed second.
Spotted at Barnadown - pictured left - an Australian Polo Team shirt on a lady with a distinctly Irish accent, but it made us feel at home anyway!
The lorries at the shows are getting more and more impressive at each show and - pictured right - there are more and more with the gate appearing giving the horses/ponies a great vantage point!

RESULTS- QUALIFIED

Class 1 Amateurs:
1. Enda Ivanoff, Clone Colour
2. Mark Tracy, Valentino
3. Tracey Walsh, Cavalier Milly
4. Lucy Murphy, Dargle Wild Fire
5. Dean Bell, Reo Beadarco
6. Sharon Walsh, Diamond Pierre
7. Emily Horne, Islay's Diamond King

Class 2 128 AB:
1. Paraic Kenny, Another Razcal
2. Paraic Kenny, Dan's Hill (Qualified)
3. Caolan Rice, Welsh Wonder (Qualified)
4. Caolan Rice, Rascal Joe
5. Aimee Moloney, Sprinters Magic
6. Eoghan Murphy, Jazz Beat
7. Matt Garrigan, Fabco Duchess (Qualified)
8. Grace Allen, Sam's Destiny

Class 3 138 AB:
1. Jonjo Bright, Light and Lively
2. Peig Van Amerongen, Rosie Duncan (Cpbs)
3. Catherine Drain, Kingsland Feargal
4. Cali O'Donnell, Claggan Supreme
5. Paraic Kenny, Irish Rose (Qualified)
6. Paraic Kenny, Woodfield Superstar
Youngster Anee-Marie Dunne- pictured above - is following in the steps of her showjumping big sister Yvonne and is competing on her 12.2hh pony looking for Belfast qualification.

Class 4 148 AB:
1. Caoimhe Kenny, Frere Jacques (Qualified)
2. Cali O'Donnell, Cullagh Lass
3. Lorcan Gallagher, Mr Hankey
4. Cali O'Donnell, Penshaw's Party Time
5. James Brennan, Ashfield Village
6. Fiona Claffey, My Little Holly

Class 5 1.10m S:
1. Kate Keohane, Cavaliers Lady Flight
2. John Mulvey, Igo-Two
3. Kate Keohane, Vis A Vis
4. Louise Walsh, Impact Fei
5. Steven Smith, Sheena
6. Peter Moloney, Carnaval Style
7. Margaret Widger, Careful 23

Class 6 1.20m S:
1. John Mulvey, Igo-Two
2. John Mulvey, Princess Cleo
3. Mili McIntyre, Vrenske Drum Vh Juxschot
4. Ger O'Neill, Uptown Girl
5. Alaa Midonoly, Hhs Cheiro
6. Louise Walsh, Impact Fei
7. Steven Smith, Dignified

Class 7 1.30m Speed S:
1. Conor Drain, Shanroe Spirit
2. Darryl Walker, Castleroache Henry
3. Mili McIntyre, Tassilo Van De Heffinck
4. Charles O'Reilly Hyland, Cassi
5. Steven Smith, Rock Sensation
6. Clare Ricketts, Ballyorney Fionn
7. Gerry O'Neill, Chrusos Z

Class 8 1.20m Young Rider:
1. Declan McParland, Cor D'Alou
2. Jaimie Chellar, Bento Van De Noordheuve
3. Declan McParland, Bally Rose
4. Mark Cleary, Shanbo McMaster
5. Darryl Walker, Alfurist
6. Clara Horgan, Distant Drums
7. Aubrey Chapman, Goodwins 007
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