KILCOCK’s Suzie Cosgrove had an eventing season of three parts with her mother Siobhan’s mare Kilcoltrim Swift.

Starting in The Netherlands in April, the pair had a good run up to Millstreet, where they finished fifth of 25 in the CCIP2-L. In four subsequent EI110 (P) starts, they twice had navigational problems and were eliminated. Last Sunday, Cosgrove and the 16-year-old bay, who has no recorded pedigree, concluded their campaign in triumph at Ballindenisk, where they completed on their dressage score (31.9 penalties) to win the CCIP2-S.

Just two other combinations finished on their first-phase scores in this 15-runner class, the highest-placed of these being the runners-up, Sarah Smullen and her aunt Angela O’Ryan’s Connemara mare Carhu Melody (34.8). Disappointingly for Robyn Dempsey, who led after dressage and was clear inside the time across the country on Saturday, she had a pole down with her mother Helen’s Connemara gelding Avalon Inis Sle and dropped to third (35.1).

The other pairing to finish on the dressage score they were awarded by Estonia’s Madli Murel (C) and Ireland’s Paula Geiger (E) was Isabelle Walsh, who slotted into sixth on Lucky For Some (41), with whom she won team silver at this year’s European pony championships. Only one combination had a problem in jumping over the cross-country course on Saturday, but plenty of coloured poles hit the deck on Sunday.

Great decision

According to Siobhan, Suzie has been riding since the age of one, when her maternal grandfather, Charlie Smith, a famed follower of the Ward Union Staghounds, first put her on a pony. There was little escape from the world of the horse, as her paternal grandfather was the legendary veterinary surgeon, Stan Cosgrove.

“We hadn’t intended running ‘Polo’ at Ballindenisk, but we didn’t want to end the season on a bad note (eliminated at the National Championships), so we changed plans and that was a great decision. As well as her wonderful result and in spite of the horrific weather on Sunday, Suzie had a great weekend and especially enjoyed the youth supper on Friday night.”

Suzie, who has two more years in ponies, is coached by Ken Mahon and receives extra training as a member of the high performance squad. She has her sights set on selection for the European pony team. A member of the Ward Union Branch of the Irish Pony Club, the 14-year-old also enjoys playing hockey and gaelic.

Sarah Smullen, who also has two years left in ponies, only got the ride on Carhu Melody in August. The 10-year-old I Love You Melody mare was previously ridden by Jessica O’Ryan, who signed off her pony career by partnering the grey to finish seventh individually (best of the Irish) and win team silver at the European pony championships in Germany.

“It’s so lovely for Sarah to have the ride on her cousin’s pony,” said Smullen’s mother Frances Crowley. “They had their first outing together at the start of the month (in the EI100P at Clyda) and, while we weren’t too sure if they’d get to Ballindenisk, they have now ticked that box. Like all others, Sarah would love to get to the Europeans and the pony has already proven that she has the ability.”

According to her mother Helen, Robyn Dempsey was gutted for about 10 minutes following Sunday’s show jumping phase but, buoyed up by all the natter between friends (she, Sarah Smullen and Isabelle Walsh did minimus together with the Kildare Pony Club), she was really happy at the end of the day.

“That was her first 2* and being last to jump on Sunday, in such horrendous conditions, she had herself under huge pressure. She was gutted to have a fence down, especially after all the hard work she had done, but it was a great achievement to be in such a position and, as she has two years left in ponies, she has plenty to look forward to.”