Margie McLoone

MAYNOOTH’s Isabelle Comerford, who only started competing under Eventing Ireland rules in late August following a second successful season in Irish Pony Club competitions, made it four for four when landing the Pat White EI 100P at Ballinagore on Sunday with Colour Me Fancy.

This was another dominant performance by the Co Kildare combination who completed on the winning dressage score (25.5) they were award by Jacki Doherty. Katherine Shields likewise finished the day on her first phase mark (32.5) to place second with the six-year-old Connemara gelding Melody Maker.

Comerford’s father Pat is extremely proud of 13-year-old Isabelle and her dedication to Colour Me Fancy and Ballycurraghan EC who she competed in EI 90P classes last season but this year kept to IPC activities.

GOOD SEASON

Colour Me Fancy, who was purchased in 2012 from Jim Derwin and was previously ridden by Comerford’s sister Emma, is a skewbald mare by the Touchdown stallion Grand Touch. “Although she’s 10, she’s a relatively inexperienced mare with low mileage,” said Comerford senior.

“Emma rode her last year when they won their arena at the British Pony Club eventing championships. She has loads of scope, plenty of blood and a lovely temperament. She and Izzy are finished for the season but will show jump over the winter. They may step up a level next year but we’ll wait and see. Izzy gets a lot of help with her show jumping from Tom Walsh.”

The Mark & Dawn Gannon EI 90P class also went to a Pony Club rider, Holly Love.

Riding Andrew Cox’s seven-year-old Dawnway Sunny Boy gelding Dryfe Wandering Minstrel, the 12-year-old was the only one of the five starters to record a double clear, the Meath branch member completing on her dressage score (35).

NORTHERN REGION

Down from the northern region, Ruari Clarke led after the first phase with last year’s European squad pony Black Velvet Band (26). However, although show jumping clear to maintain their advantage, they glanced off the second of the cottages at seven to drop to second. Two others had a problem at that fence.

There was never a question of Love’s season continuing at Kilguilkey as she had already signed up for tomorrow’s team event at the Katie Nugent duathlon in Ballinlough Castle where she is running while her mother Sarah cycles.