The Irish Draught Horse Society (GB) is pleased to announce that their joint sponsorship of this Challenge with Blue Chip Feeds Ltd is to continue into 2011.
To enter the Blue Chip & IDHS (GB) £2,000 Challenge, horses must be pure or part-bred Irish Draught and registered, or eligible for registration, with The Irish Draught Horse Society (GB), on either the Irish Draught or Irish Draught Sport Horse Registers. To be eligible, horses must have proven evidence of a minimum of 25% Irish Draught breeding and all qualifiers must be registered with the IDHS (GB) by the time of the Final, which will be held at the Society’s Annual Breed Show at Onley Grounds Equestrian Complex, Willoughby, Warwickshire, on Saturday 10th September 2011.

Qualifiers are taken from the highest placed horses competing in Lightweight, Middleweight or Heavyweight Ridden Hunter, Working Hunter and Small Hunter Classes at affiliated SHB (GB) Shows, Ridden Irish Draught or Irish Draught Sport Horse Classes at affiliated IDHS (GB) Shows and Ridden and Working Cob, Maxi Cob and Riding Horse Classes at affiliated BSHA Shows.

Entering its eighth year, the Blue Chip & IDHS (GB) £2,000 Challenge is now a well established and important event in the showing calendar. There are Qualifiers at shows, both large and small, all over the country and the Society is looking forward to a record number of entries for the 2010 Final at its new venue.

THE BLUE CHIP & IDHS (GB) £2,000 CHALLENGE 2010
Another year of qualifiers, another year of triumphs and disappointments and suddenly it was the Final of The Blue Chip & IDHS (GB) £2,000 Challenge, jointly sponsored by Blue Chip Feeds Ltd and the Society
This year, with a change of venue to Arena UK, all the heats were on the lovely all weather outdoor arenas, which certainly put a spring in many steps. It is always a very strong competition, and this seventh year was no exception.

On Saturday afternoon, we had the four qualifying sections to find the finalists, not an easy task in such fine company. We were able to have the Final in the form of a Gala Performance in the indoor arena on Saturday night.
Everyone was dressed in their best with all the horses impeccably turned out, tuned up and ready to go. The spotlights came on and it was a sight to see when the final competitors showed off their paces and the spectators once again appreciated the spectacular gallops along the long side, clapping and cheering for their favourite. The many spectators had risen to the occasion, with many dressing up in their evening finery. As the final judging commenced the arena went quiet.

Prizes in this competition go down to seventh place, traditionally announced in reverse order, which is guaranteed to keep the tension mounting.
In seventh place was Mrs. R. Maxwell's Malibu II, sixth place was secured by D. Pittendrigh's Castle Jordan, in fifth place we saw Alison Davis's Kenlis Caruso, a two place improvement on his fifth placing in 2009, in fourth place was Mrs. R. Heatherington's Hallmark IX and in 3rd place was Miss Lucy Henson's Bureaucrat,

The arena went silent as it was now the top two places; and it was a tense moment - then the judges brought out as Reserve Christian Kwek's Jack Daniels by Annaghdown Star RID, to huge cheers.

Only a heartbeat and then - the Winner, Samantha Roche’s talented 11-year-old chestnut gelding, CABRA WEST (AID) crowned 2010 Blue Chip & IDHS (GB) £2,000 Challenge Champion – for the second year running (and he was also highest placed pure bred Irish Draught!)

It was a most popular result and Cabra West looked a picture. Everyone clapped and cheered in approval. Sam was speechless as she patted and hugged the horse with a huge beaming smile on her face. After last year’s win, Sam never dreamed that she would ‘do the double’.
Sam and Sue Tutcher, who had secured the ride on Jack Daniels due to Christian’s other commitments, have been close friends for years and they both stood up in their stirrups and gave each other a well deserved hug, much to the delight of the spectators.

What a wonderful spectacle it was, seeing all those top class horses together in one ring – it is an indication of the high regard that top riders have for this Challenge. When Sam and Tigger did their lap(s) of honour, it felt as though there were 2000 spectators – it was incredible.

We are greatly indebted to Clare Blaskey, Managing Director of Blue Chip Feeds Ltd for their continued support and sponsorship of this Challenge.
Clare comments:
“This is the seventh year that we have sponsored the Blue Chip & Irish Draught £2,000 Challenge. We have been delighted at how this fantastic opportunity to win a share of £2000 has proven to be so popular. Each year we get more entries and it has also proved the ideal competition for amateurs as well as professionals, to show off the true value of the Irish Sport Horse.
We are proud to continue sponsorship and hope that in 2011 even more shows will take part in the qualifiers. We would like to once again congratulate this year’s winner, Sam Roche, who won for the 2nd year running, with her heavyweight show-hunter, Cabra West.”

Full details of the prize winners are as follows:

Champion and highest placed pure bred: Mrs S J Roche - CABRA WEST (AID) chestnut gelding b.1999 s. Skippy Too (RID) d. Warren House Princess (AID) ds. Enniskeane Prince (RID) br. Owner r. Owner

Sarah Butler from Blue Chip Feed LTD presenting 2010’s Blue Chip & IDHS (GB) £2000 Challenge winner,
Sam Roche and pure bred gelding Cabra West

A delighted Sam says of her incredible success:
“Winning the Blue Chip for a second time is a dream come true.. He really rose to the occasion and loved the excellent surfaces at Arena UK. I feel that I owe Blue Chip twice for this title – once for providing the support and sponsorship but also for Blue Chip Original, which keeps him looking his best. To get dressed up in our evening performance was amazing for the Breed and the spectators.”
 

Reserve: Mr C Kwek - JACK DANIELS (RID) grey gelding b.2000 s. Annaghdown Star (RID) d. Nancy Whiskey (RID) ds. Sea Crest (RID) br. Mr R Butler r. Mrs Sue Tutcher

An exhilarated Sue Tutcher writes about Reserve Champion Jack Daniels:
Khrisitian had other commitments on Saturday night, so I was honoured to be given the ride on Jack in the Final. He is such a good horse to do and he gave me a brilliant ride .I am so happy for Sam and Tigger, on achieving this amazing, well deserved ‘double’.

3rd place: Miss L Henson - BUREAUCRAT (SHR) bay gelding b. 2005 s. Colin Diamond (ISH) d. Nel’s Pearl (ISH) ds. Mr Fordette (TB) br. Mr R Kelly r. Owner

4th place & Highest Placed 15.2hh and Under, winning the Kincaid Plate for the second year running, Mrs R Hetherington - HALLMARK IX (RID) chestnut gelding b. 2004 s. Welcome Flagmount (RID) d. Rebel Rose (RID) ds. Glenagyle Rebel (RID) br. Mr M Howley r. Mr Jack Cochrane

Hallmark IX, winner of 15.2hh and under and, again for the second year running,
recipient of the Kincaid plate in memory of Clare’s much loved show hunter, Blue Chip Kincaid.

5th place: Mrs A Davis KENLIS CARUSO (SHR) bay gelding b.2003 s. The Bard (RID) d. Beautys Girl (ISH) ds. Dangan King (RID) br. Mrs B Nolan r. Mr Rory Gilsenan

6th place: Mrs D E Pittendrigh CASTLE JORDAN (AID) liver chestnut gelding b. 1998 s. Castana (RID) d. Rose Diamond (ISH) ds. Cream Of Diamonds (RID) br. Ms L O’Donnell r. Ms Sarah Trattles

7th place: Mrs R Maxwell MALIBU II (SHR) chestnut gelding b.2004 s. Snowford Benson (RID) d. Holly VI ds. Dixi br. Mrs J Leighton r. Mrs Jane Collins
 

A full list of Shows holding Qualifiers in 2011 can be found on the Shows page or please contact Miss Leigh Edgeler, Mareve, Woodstock Road, Stonesfield, Witney, Oxon OX29 8EJ Tel: 01993 898109 and 07854 518419