Gypsy Cobra Cruis, ridden by Antonia de Burgh won the Horse Sport Ireland sponsored Carl Geisler Memorial championship for the supreme ridden horse at the Riding Clubs Festival at Stradbally Hall Estate, Co. Laois on Saturday (10th June).

The 8-year-old Cobra ISH gelding had earlier topped the line-up in the lightweight championship in order to qualify for the final.

It wasn’t an easy task for the judges as the final included the champion and reserve champions of the lightweight, mediumweight, heavyweight, riding horse, small hunter, cobs, side saddle, 4 year olds and mare championships went forward to the final decider.

After much deliberation, they gave the nod to the Joseph Allen bred chestnut gelding ahead of reserve champion Grainne III, a eight-year-old dun mare ridden by Fiona Doggett from Mill Road.

Meanwhile, a thoroughbred won the Eddie Fowler Memorial championship for the third year in a row for the best of breeds at the show.

Emma Sweeney’s Mr Cosmopolitan IRE, a 10-year-old, won on this occasion for Cheval. The bay gelding, bred by Hugh W Newell, had earlier won the thoroughbred showing class.

Reserve went to Sophie Mark’s Barbervilla Lily, an eight-year-old Irish Draught. The Michael Jennings bred chestnut mare had earlier won the Irish Draught championship.

Elsewhere The Frank Mangan Memorial championship was awarded to Ruby Cartier, an 8-year-old bay gelding, ridden by Castle Hills Anita McNamara.