Noel Mullins photo
Considered the social event of the year in the Unionville, Pennsylvania equestrian world, family and friends gathered from both sides of the Atlantic to celebrate the marriage of Irishman Ivan Dowling and Californian Stephanie Boyer. Dowling, a native of Loughrea in County Galway, grew up hunting with the Galway Blazers before emigrating to America as huntsman of Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds for the last twelve seasons. Dowling successfully carried through the daring foxhound breeding experiment at Cheshire initiated by previous huntsman John Tulloch.
Boyer, having changed careers from eventing, served the Cheshire as professional whipper-in to Dowling. Boyer had worked with international event riders, Philip Dutton, Olympic dual gold and bronze medallist, and Buck Davidson, Pan American Games and Olympic rider. She has competed at the highest level in eventing, including riding her own Irish-bred eventer Macloud at the Rolex 4* event in Kentucky in 2009. She also breezed horses for top race trainers Michael Matz and Jonathan Sheppard.
The marriage was conducted by Father Michael Byrne from the Diocese of Clonfert in Galway in Saint Malachi’s Church, Cochranville. Father Byrne also married former British champion jockey A.P. McCoy and Chanelle Burke, the latter a neighbour of Dowling’s when growing up in Loughrea. The best man was Ollie Briscoe who farms in Galway together with Paul Keary and the groom’s brother Paul. The bridesmaids were Ashley Adams and Lillian Heard both 4* event riders, the latter having competed in Millstreet, County Cork this year, together with the bride’s sister Lesley. Stephanie’s father Stephen gave the bride away, while event rider Ryan Woods escorted her mother Teresa down the aisle.
After the ceremony the happy couple raced away in a convertible Ferrari to their first stop, the couples’ Grey Lake Stable, where they board, train and prepare horses for sale. Here they took photos with the star of their stable, Fort Henry—the horse they loaned to Irish rider Susan Oakes who won all three races of the American Side Saddle Race Series this year—and Riley, the couple’s collie dog.
From the eventing world were Rio Olympics eventing bronze medallist Philip Dutton and his wife Evie, fellow team member Boyd Martin and his wife and US dressage team member and trainer, Sylva. Also Ryan Woods, Jenny Brannigan, Zac Brandt and his girlfriend Michelle Mercies, who campaigns two Irish eventers.
From the hunting world were former Cheshire Joint-Master and bloodstock agent Russell Jones and his wife Donnan, an Olympic dressage rider, who have horses in training with Jessica Harrington. Also Beth Cannon; Kathleen Crompton; Wendy Powell; Dixon Stroud; Hugh, Wendy and Sally Lofting; Walter Puddifer; Annabelle Weller-Poly; Dr. Celia Goodall Dr. Gerard Keane; and huntsman Sam Clifton and Shannon Roach from the Green Spring Valley Hounds, together with current Cheshire huntsman Barry Magner and Mary Taylor Miller.
From the racing world were Waterford jockey Mark Beecher, Gerard Gilligan and Archie Macauley from Wicklow, Todd McKenna, Kathy Neilson, former champion steeplechase jockey Louis ‘Paddy’ Neilson, III and his wife Toinette. Also Pan American and Olympic showjumping medallist Michael Matz who trained Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro and Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags. Matz and his wife DD were also on the US team to win the Aga Khan Nations Cup in Dublin in 1993. Also joining the party were racehorse trainer Tara Ellmore and jockey Jody Petty, who won four Breeders Cups on MacDynamo as well as a Maryland Hunt Cup on the Irish-bred former Gigginstown Stud, Guts For Garters.
Celebrations continued until 4:00 am in the Yellow House in Unionville to the music of the Porter Mason Band.
Posted October14, 2016
Noel Mullins is a lifelong foxhunter and sporting photo/journalist. Click to visit his website and view his books and articles.