ALTHOUGH major fixtures in Ireland kept the numbers of ponies and riders travelling to South View Equestrian Centre in Cheshire to compete in the English Home Pony International to a minimum, Irish riders certainly proved a force to be reckoned with.

Ireland never leave South View without at least one Grand Prix win to their credit and a victory in the 1.15m performance final by 12-year-old Max Wachman maintained that record.

Riding Diamond, the Tipperary rider produced a smooth and economical clear round to head a marathon 22-strong jump-off.

Despite having an early draw at fourth to go, under the guidance of Michael Condon, Wachman kept his cool and saved every inch from a tempting jump-off track set by Neil Theobold.

Although Wachman has been riding his 16-year-old winning partner for two years, he has only just stepped up to this level and the pair jumped their first 1.20m track in Ireland just two weeks before this show.

“This is the biggest and most technical course we have taken on, but Diamond is very careful and quick across the ground and everything worked out for us,” said Wachman, who was one of the youngest riders in the class.

Finishing in fourth place was Sean Foley riding Moos.

Wachman had certainly fired a warning shot on the first day as Diamond won the opening 1.15m competition, the cracking mare setting the standard in the very early stages of a two-phase competition.

TEAM EVENT

With an extra team event for riders aged 10 years and under, team day proved a marathon as two of the five competitions went to a third round to decide the winners.

Under the guidance of chef d’Equipe John McNamara and trainer Michael Condon, team Ireland were quickly off the mark and won the 128cm competition in great style.

Ireland’s winning quartet of Yiayan Evans (Dandy), Katie McEntee (Kilcreene Apollo), Jack Geaney (Boombox) and Tom Wachman (Murphy Spartacus) finished on a zero score, with England (12 faults) and Scotland taking the next two places.

With England, Ireland and Scotland all finishing on zero after two rounds in the 10 years and under competition, a timed jump-off was needed to decide the medals. The host nation prevailed to pip Ireland’s team of Katie McEntee (Que T), Alice Wachman (Little Ceasar), Ellen Power (Oak Deborah) and the co-opted Alena Hughes (Barnee Rubble).

England and Ireland fought out the finish in the 138cm team event. Both teams carried no penalties forward to the second round, but Ireland’s team of Robyn Moran (Weston Oreo), Max Wachman (Scarletts Billy The Kid), John McEntee (Hubba Bubba) and Yiayan Evans (Glenview Sparky) could not match England’s second round clean sheet and they had to settle for silver again.

Wales gained a winning double by heading the 1.15m performance and open 148cm team competitions.

Ireland’s final medal was silver in the performance event after a third round saw Max Wachman (Diamond), Sean Foley (Tynagh Lady), Emma McEntee (Dapple Grey Dew Drop) and Robyn Moran (River Casanova) complete on eight faults to push Scotland into third place.

Chef d’Equipe John McNamara was delighted with his teams, saying: “With two big shows in Ireland, we came out here light in numbers, but riders were well prepared and they really stepped up to the mark.

“We had a good, strong 128cm team and it was a good class to win and the 138cm riders did all they could, but it just slipped away from us.

“In the 148cm classes we had young ponies with very little experience and some new combinations and they really came up to the mark,” he said.

With five days of competition, Irish riders carried an enviable ribbon haul back over the water.

The writing was on the wall when in class 2 of 40, Irish riders claimed 10 of the top 12 places in a 128/138cm handicap. Robyn Moran headed the class riding Western Oreo with Yiayan Evans taking second and third with Dandy and Glenvar Sparky.

Another Irish top three came in one of the winter 128cm first rounds with Yiayan Evans (Dandy), Katie McEntee (Kilcreene Apollo) and Tom Wachman (Sparkle) leading the way.

The 128/138cm handicap classes proved among the most competitive and Katie Power (Bear Me In Mind) and Emma Walshe (Sunday Ru Flavien) took the top two places on team day.

“It has been a great experience. The courses have been very good and what we expected here and I’d like to thank all the parents for their co-operation and help and to South View,” McNamara concluded.