Margie McLoone

JODIE Ronan won the Longines Irish Champions Weekend small event horse final at the RDS last August on her own French Buffet gelding Ardeo Dime, who she is now successfully show jumping, and on Wednesday at Forth Mountain qualified Ardeo Illusion for next month’s Dublin Horse Show.

The six-year-old Beach Ball gelding, who was clear in 172.83 (time allowed 206 seconds) is owned by Leila Baker who missed taking the ride herself as she is on holidays. Brought down to Forth Mountain by Neil Wrynn of Ardeo Sport Horses, Ardeo Illusion was bred in Co Tyrone by Thomas McGuigan out of the Clover Echo mare Royale Echo.

The winner, a smart type, has eight Eventing Ireland points. He finished third in his last two outings at novice level, at Kilmanahan and, more recently at Killossery Lodge.

The busy Diarmuid Ryan finished second in 165.07 on Judy Quirke’s previously qualified seven-year-old Ganty Blazer mare Cullion Kemira. This left the next qualifying ticket to be picked up by a delighted Christine O’Donnell on her father Kevin’s Contador mare Kiltoltrim Dora.

The six-year-old grey, whose clear was recorded in 163.67, was bred in Borris, Co Carlow by Pierce Doyle out of the Connemara Kilcoltrum Honey, a daughter of Templebready Fear Bui.

QUALIFIED

Also qualifying on Thursday were Linda Murphy riding Rita Morgan’s six-year-old Grand Plaisir gelding Shirsheen Fun Size (159 seconds) and Pauline Dahill with her mother Joan’s home-bred Glencairn Ivy who had a fence down in 182.47.

That Andy’s Pride mare qualified at Scarteen for the Connemara performance hunter championship at the RDS. Forth Mountain hosts the second qualifier for the Dublin native breed championships today with 98 Connemaras entered and 52 Irish Draughts.