Two Irish Sport Horses earned top thirty positions in the FEI “Best Horse and Rider Combination in Jumping” rankings for 2003. The consistently successful Carling King (ISH) ridden by Kevin Babbington (IRL) took tenth position with Mr. Springfield (ISH) and Robert Smith (GBR) coming twenty-seventh.

In recent competition Sails Away (ISH) was ridden by Sebastien Numminen (FIN) to take eighth place in the Leipzig, Germany CSI W Wernesgruner Grand Prix (1m60) on
Sunday, January 25th. Across the border in Switzerland at the Zurich CSI 5* (January 29th– February 1st) Michel Hecart (FRA) rode That’s Life (ISH) to win Thursdays Movenpick Opening 1m40 class.

Further afield in the US Hilton Flight (ISH) was ridden by Richard Spooner (USA) to take second place in the Indio $50,000 Emo Grand Prix (FEI World Cup) last Sunday, February 1st. At the Palm Beach CSI 2*, Sundays $35,000 Grand Prix found Carlow Clover (ISH) and Robin Sweely (USA) in fifth place.

Breeding of the above Irish Sport Horses

•Carling King ~ 1991 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Clover Hill (RID), out of Gortnagger Star (ISH) by Chairlift (TB), bred by Dr. Pat Geraghty, Glenamaddy, Co. Galway.
•Carlow Clover ~ 1994 Irish Draught gelding by Clover Hill (RID), out of Clonard Diamond (AID), by Diamonds are Trumps (RID) bred by Joseph Delaney, Newtown, Clonard, Mountrath, Co. Laois.
•Hilton Flight ~ 1993 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Errigal Flight (ISH), out of Occasion VII (WNTR), bred by Jennifer Giles, Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow.
•Mister Springfield ~ 1993 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Western Promise (ISH), out of Glebe Bess (RID), by Ballinahow Boy (RID) bred by Robert L.
Gallagher, 22 Springfield Road, Co. Derry. •Sails Away ~ 1989 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Cruising (ISH) out of Victoria Plum (ISH), by Bahrain (TB), bred by Mary McCann, Hartwell Stud, Kill, Co Kildare.
•That’s Life ~ 1994 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Clover Fields (ISH), out of Classy Madame (TB), by Ozymandias (TB) bred by Con Ryan, The Abbey, Templemore, Co. Tipperary.

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