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Twin Blues Grace O'Malley - 2nd place Yearling Hunter, Colt, Filly or Gelding at the Royal Show and winner of the Shamrock Sash.

BRAVEHEART RID (O'Leary's Irish Diamond x Kilbline) Fully Registered and Approved Irish Draught Stallion The semen from Braveheart RID is at present in Australia but approved for use in NZ. There are 10 breedings available. More information

Hunting recognition

Northwood Attorney at Law (registered Irish Hunter by Coalman's Touch) - winner of the Master's Trophy for First Season Hunter 2008

Ray and Jo Bensemann of Palmerston North, bought Northwood Attorney at Law (aka Zinzan, by Coalman's Touch, out of Croftlea Showtime) from Barbara and Scott Dobson of Northwood Stables in April of this year. It was a nerve-racking time for all involved in the purchase and sale - because no-one had met in person and Ray and Jo had never set eyes on Zinzan. Now, three months later Zinzan is much admired as a perfect hunter and has recently been awarded the hotly contested Master's Trophy for First Season Hunter for the Manawatu Hunt.

A combination of factors led Ray and Jo to be looking for a horse rather urgently in April this year. They had always admired Coalman's Touch, and the Irish Sporthorse type in particular, but they had seen adding a Coalman's Touch horse to their stable as being a long term plan. They had their own young Irish Sporthorses growing in the paddock at home (a Willie John yearling and another yearling out of a lovely Kingsway Diamond mare) but suddenly, in April, Ray was in the position of needing to find a hunter in rather a hurry as the season had started and he had lost both his rides - a faithful hunter he'd been riding for many years had been recently turned out with health problems and a "new" horse (also an Irish Sporthorse) that he was bringing on was recovering from surgery at Massey University.

Zinzan arrived in early April and within a few days was being ridden out in preparation for his first hunt - yes, it was to be "in at the deep end" for both Ray and Zinzan. Ray's intention was to hunt Zinzan "quietly" this season, so the four-year-old could find out what hunting was all about.

It became obvious very quickly that Zinzan had other ideas, and was not going to be taking things quietly at the back of the field. There seemed to be an expectation that he was not to be held back, and was in fact destined, even at his young age, to be hunting at the front with the master, where he belonged, a position that he has occupied in many hunts this season, from Manawatu to Egmont-Taranaki.

Ray and Jo's vague feeling that they would like a Coalman's Touch horse "one day" and the series of meetings and connections that put Zinzan and Ray together in April of this year has reinforced their admiration for the Irish Sport Horses that are purpose bred for what they enjoy doing - hunting and showjumping.

Zinzan appears to be completely at home in the hunt environment and is already confidently approaching everything asked of him. He is a testament to Northwood Stables' breeding and his start in life, which has obviously provided him with the self assurance to relax and do what he was bred to do.

Over summer, Zinzan will get some time off and will showjump, perhaps even in the 5yo series.

Shamrock Sash winner

Just a quick note to let you know how Miss Tessa, my Irish girl by Willie John went at the Nelson Breeders show. First outing for her in a number of years, but as she has a stunning first foal we thought we should show them off.

She had a fantastic day winning the champion broodmare trophy, reserve champion breeding stock, the Shamrock Sash and also the Champion Irish Horse Trophy. Her foal Maybe Mickey won reserve champion youngstock and was first in the Youngstock best action, up to and including 3 years, which was fantastic. Together they won 8 other ribbons, 6 of them red. Which goes to show Irish horses have the looks, temperament and movement to hold their own anywhere.

Miss Tessa was shown extensively as a 4, 5, and 6-year-old for numerous supreme champions on the flat - five in one year. She has also won championships in dressage, hunter, show-hunter and F.E.I. show-jumping. A highlight for me was winning the Western Central districts aggregate show-jumping champion sash in 2004. I also did eventing, barrel racing, games days and CTR with much success. She was an extremely versatile horse and could turn her had to anything asked, a brilliant all-round horse. Now she is making a lovely broodmare, she is just so easy to work with. We are looking forward to many more foals in the future.

Rachel Kersten
Greymouth

Northwood Jet Stream, who won the Supreme Champion Irish Draught title and the South Island Championship titles.

It was pleasing to see entries of around 20 horses presented to judge Mrs Nicky Hutchinson in the Irish Section horses at the 35 Annual Canterbury Horse and Pony Breeders Show held at Canterbury Park on the 9 February 2008.

The first class of the day saw the superbly turned out Coniston Maisie and Tracy Crossan take out the Best Turnout of Horse and Handler. The lovely Coniston Maisie who is by Coalman's Touch also won the Dry Mare 4 years and over class. Winner of the Broodmare with foal at foot class was the lovely Thornfield Bella, by Laughtons Legend exhibited by Lesley Spence and Sarah Stone. The Champion Adult rosette was won by Coniston Maisie with Thornfield Bella taking Reserve.

Always a great sight, the Foal class was well supported once again, eventual winner being the delightful colt by Coalman's Touch, Thornfield Bram shown by Lesley Spence and Sarah Stone. The Yearling Colt or Filly class was won by Twin Blues Celtic King, a colt by Coalman's Touch shown by Twin Blues Stud.

The Two year old Colt class was won by the impressive grey Northwood Jet Stream also by Coalman's Touch and exhibited by Scott and Barbara Dobson. AW and DP Scott won the Two year old Filly class with their lovely Ashfield Rata, another by Coalman's Touch. Titus Maximus of Penrice by The Gladiator and exhibited by Bevan and Jo Souness won the Two year old Gelding class.

The Three year old Filly class was interesting in that a half bred, a ¾ bred and a purebred filly were all presented to the judge making for three very different types. The winner was Coleraine Coalfire, a filly by Coalman's Touch shown by SJ & LM Clark, the lovely purebred filly Eyreleigh Finnoula taking second for N & L Turner. With the numbers of ¾ bred horses increasing as evident by the large number of them shown here today, and breeders making the effort to produce purebreds, it is surely time to look at providing specific classes for this stock at the Breeders Show.

Thornfield Chatsworth, by Coalman's Touch took out the Gelding 4 years and over class for Lesley Spence and Sarah Stone. This lovely gelding went on to take out the Champion Gelding title, with the 2 year old Titus Maximus of Penrice taking Reserve. Northwood Jet Stream won the Champion Youngstock title with the 3 year old filly Coleraine Coalfire taking Reserve. Northwood Jet Stream went on to win both the Supreme Champion Irish Draught title and the South Island Championship title.

Congratulations to all those that exhibited their horses.