THE busy Western Area of the Irish Pony Society held their Spring Show last Sunday at Duffy’s Equestrian Centre, where the schedule was extended by the inclusion of three ridden and two working hunter qualifiers for the Connemara section of Balmoral Show (May 14th to 17th).

George O’Malley, who was charged with judging all the Balmoral classes, faced his biggest field in the working hunter qualifier for riders aged 16 and upwards, where his marginal winner with 97 marks was Oranmore’s Jane Field riding her mother Marjorie Hardiman’s well-known Clonmoylan Red Hugh, a 16-year-old grey gelding by True Commotion.

Also qualifying were Alan McNulty with Murvey Luna (96), Joel Rettenmyer on Cloonard Duneen (95), Lara Field with Creganna Kerfuffle (93), Lilly Berry McLaughlin riding General Sinatra (91) and Caroline Devine with Rockwell Bonnie (90).

Amira Curran and her father Daryl’s Caherpuca Chappy, a seven-year-old grey gelding by Coolin America, qualified for Balmoral in one of the ridden classes and doubled up when landing the working hunter qualifier for riders aged between 10 and 16. The Co Kildare pairing, who were awarded 95 marks by O’Malley, are the reigning Balmoral flat champions.

Jane Field and Clonmoylan Red Hugh, winners of the Balmoral Over 16 Connemara working hunter qualifier at Duffys on Sunday \ Joe Burke

Another combination to qualify on the flat and over jumps was Cara Foley and Thorndale Melody (94), while Sophie Cusack did so with the busy Claireville Codiac (93). Keris-Mae O’Toole booked one of two tickets here, this time with Forest Buddy (93).

Maggi Caffey and Illaunurra Bay, who competed in, and won, the 1m/1.05m Connemara class at the first of the IPS Sports Pony Challenge qualifiers at Raheen Na Gun Stud and Equestrian Centre in Kilkenny on Saturday, travelled over to Rockmount on Sunday. The Co Meath combination had to settle for fifth here with 92 marks. Grace O’Rorke claimed the final qualifying ticket by right on board Foleys Marl 18 (89).

O’Malley had to select four qualifiers – and two reserves – from each of the three ridden classes and, with the Western Area show championship already in the bag, it was a good day for Grace Maxwell Murphy, who was the first called forward in the four and five-year-old class for riders aged 12 and over, with her 2020 Glencarrig Knight gelding Gleann Rua Knight Time.

Also qualifying by right here were Kitty Concannon with Cornfield Cressida, Chloe Lacey with Ballylee Lemon and Sadhbh O’Connor with Teach Mor Sparrow.

Champion IPS overall working hunter pony Claireville Codiac and Sophie Cusack (right), winners of the Balmoral 15cm working hunter qualifier at Duffys on Sunday. They also qualified for the Under 16 workers in Balmoral. Reserve champion was Nicole O’Shaughnessy with her new pony Glandrine Pied Piper, who won the working and flat starter stakes \ Joe Burke

Concannon also qualified in the six-year-old and upwards class for riders aged 10 and over with Bridgo’s Knight. Emer McNamara bagged her Balmoral ticket with Rathcoona Ruth, Jodie Moran took over the ride here on the busy Claireville Codiac and was called forward as a qualifier, as was Tara Roche with Lispopple Silver Dex.

O’Malley didn’t have to spend too much time deliberating in the class for ponies aged four and upwards, but confined to riders aged between 10 and 16, as there were just 10 starters. Here, he sent forward Lucy Watson Ryan with Slievebloom Hilda, Amira Curran on Caherpuca Chappy, Keris-Mae O’Toole with Gentle April and Cara Foley riding Thorndale Melody.