THE three phases of the sport most definitely had their effect on the result of the Berney Bros CCI2*-L class for ponies at this year’s Tattersalls International Horse Trials with Grace Tyrrell topping the podium having proven her ability to stay the distance.

There was delight among the Laois rider’s supporters during Thursday’s dressage phase when, sixth to compete with Fiona’s Fionn before the ground jury of Britain’s Jane Tolley (president, at C), Portugal’s Anibál Marianito and Ireland’s John Lyttle, she went into the lead on a penalty score of 31.4. That was to be bettered, however, by local rider Lucie Glynn who, last in, achieved a score of 30.8 with Bramblebrough Eoghan.

As usual, the ponies were first out on the Ian Stark-designed cross-country course and little confidence was gained in the collecting area when the pathfinder, Kerry Magill, was unseated from Lisnahall Miss Toffee at the A element of the Horsefirst corner on mound at 11.

Two others failed to complete – Olivia Swan, who too was unseated from Rockon Pedro at the B element of the Connolly’s Red Mills mound, and Ruth Burke whose mount Atlantic Dream refused three times at fence 16 (the Horse Sport Ireland water).

The Susan Shanahan-ridden Little Indian Feather, who had put in an unexpected stop at Rosanna, did so again here at the Horsefirst fence and disappointingly was withdrawn before Saturday’s second horse inspection where Bryan Bourke’s mount Cillbhid Pippa, who had been lying fourth, was not accepted by the ground jury much to the anguish of his young rider.

Having timed her cross-country round to near perfection the previous morning, Holly Love, who was the first to jump, was unseated from Cloughreagh Charlie as, bizarrely, her brother Timmy was from the same pony in 2016 before coming back to finish fifth the following year.

Aine Duggan had three fences down with Manniard Diamond, to complete on a total of 54.50, as did Grace Tyrrell with her mother Maria’s Connemara gelding Fiona’s Fionn, finishing on a penalty score of 43.40. Sadly, the leader Lucie Glynn was eliminated when Bramblebrough Eoghan put in a second refusal.

Tears

There were a lot of post-competition tears, some joyful, some sad. It was impossible to get to talk to the winning rider as she was being hugged from horseback and from the ground and, when not, was on the phone, with the calls, and phones, being fielded by her mother.

Among those in contact was Grace’s father Andrew, who was on duty as Turf Club veterinary officer in Tramore, and her equally-proud brother Jim who is studying veterinary medicine in Edinburgh.

Jim rode Fiona’s Fionn throughout 2015 and 2016 and signed off his career in ponies by partnering the 2008 Monaghanstown Fionn gelding on the Irish team which finished fourth in the 2016 European championships in Denmark.