THE working hunter committee of the Irish Pony Society moved to a new venue for the second leg of its 2025 Sport Pony Challenge last Sunday and it would appear that their choice of the Banner Equestrian Centre in the Burren region of Co Clare met with universal approval, especially given the glorious weather.

I don’t know which of Evie Kennedy’s parents look after the Thurles yard’s logistics but it’s difficult to know where she will appear next! Last Sunday, it was at Banner Equestrian where she claimed the honours in the well-filled 143cm class on board her mother Maeve’s previously-qualified Connemara gelding Little Dromin Phoenix.

Kennedy and the 16-year-old Lettermuckmoo Lad grey won the dressage, were second in the working hunter section and fifth in the show jumping phase for a total of 275 points. Maggi Caffey qualified in second with another Connemara gelding, Loughwell Bobby (265), ahead of Roisin Lucey and Brandonwell Jack (250) and Aoife Walsh riding My Cocoa Bean (240).

Lucey’s trip from Innishannon proved worthwhile as she also qualified for the 1m Connemara final when landing Sunday’s class on Legends Champion. The 10-year-old Lonsdale Legend grey won both the dressage and show jumping phases but only finished third in front of Hamilton Bennett for a total of 290 points.

Caffey’s journey down from Co Meath paid further dividends as she qualified in second here on the well-known Illaunaurra Bay (285) while Ellie Carroll secured the third ticket on the working hunter phase winner, Carnaween Pondi (275).

The second Connemara class over 90cm tracks was won by the Freya Dempsey-partnered Ballinlough Adonis. The eight-year-old Western Boy gelding only finished third in the Una O’Donnell-judged dressage phase but won both jumping sections for a total of 290 points.

This combination had qualified previously as had the second-placed pairing of Lillian Ward and Killea Peril (270). The golden tickets therefore went to Faye Brennan with Bohey Ronnie (270), Ayda Daly with Ballinacourtys Galway Beauty (250) and Grace O’Rorke on Foleys Marl 18 (250).

Evie Kennedy winner of the 143cms class at the Sports Pony Challenge with Eliabeth Wentges, chair of the IPS working hunter committee

Mentioned earlier, Ellie Carroll too returned home with a red rosette as winner of the 133cm class which only attracted four entries and two of these were eliminated in the working hunter phase.

Carroll’s willing partner was the Grade A Belgian-bred Renaissance Racinda, a six-year-old 128cm Priestwood Gigolo gelding who was lying last of the four after dressage but, importantly, won both jumping phases. The palomino completed with 285 points to his credit while Lucy Hope Ryan finished second on the previously-qualified Diamond Shadow.

153cm class

Consistency proved the winning format for Sophie Cusack in the 153cm class where her mount Clareville Codiac, the well-known nine-year-old Connemara gelding by Caherlistrane Bay, finished first in dressage, third in the working hunter section and second in the Sarah O’Donnell-judged show jumping phase for a total of 285.

With the second and third-placed combinations already qualified, the two remaining tickets went to Ned Kelly with Indian Joe (fourth on 255) and Sadhbh Mannix riding Grantstown Misty Star (fifth on 250).

Maire Quinlan-Pluck judged the dressage phase in the Starter Stakes and Novice class. In the former victory went to Co Meath’s Rosita Dunne with the previously-qualified Fontmell Jack Sparrow (285), a 10-year-old Welsh gelding by Carrwood Zeus.

The qualifying tickets therefore went down the line to Will Griffin riding Leagaun Colour (275), Lennan Moloney with Mister O’Malley (275) and Sophie Connolly with Twyford Captain Morgan (255).

The highest score of the day, 295, was recorded in the Novice class by Aine Brennan and her nine-year-old dun gelding Captain Bailey who won both the dressage and working hunter phases but could only finish second over the coloured poles to the class runners-up, Tessa Hogan and Northcottage Lady (275). Qualifying tickets went to Tara Keogh on Shadow and Lucy Bannon with Carnhill Jema who couldn’t be split in third (270).

There were no entries for Sunday’s Intermediate class.

The next leg of the Sports Pony Challenge takes place at Marlton Stud on Tuesday week, April 15th.