SATURDAY at the National Pony Championships in Mullingar saw the finals of the Ballinroe Pony Premier Series being held in International Sand 1 where judge Killian Thornton was in fine voice all week.

First up were the COH/JU competitors, where Alice Moloney took the win on a blisteringly fast Castlefield Cass. Isabelle O’Conaola and Earl Greys Last Cruise continued their consistent season with second place, while Natasha Foley took a break from arena party duties to take third place with Cillbhrid Excel. Isabelle O’Conaola took Overall Premier Champion, with Robbie Sheehan as Reserve Champion for the Series.

The 128 U10 series took audience participation to a new level with Caitie McEvoy and Tynan Tuttle Pip taking the win in the class and the Premier Series. Jack Derwin and Ginger Rodgers were close behind in second and Daniel McKeon-Devaney and Pillheath Camellia picked up third place which was enough to secure him Reserve Champion for the Series.

The 128 1.05 saw a challenging track that produced just four first round clears, and all of them came from experienced, well-known ponies on the circuit. Lucia Keane and Ravara Mohawk took top spot, much to the delight of parents and sponsors Susan and Pat Keane, and this was enough to secure her the Overall Premier Champion honours in the series.

Annie Hughes Kennedy took second place with He’s A Touch Of Magic, while Benjamin O’Connor and Lisboy Black Magic produced the only other double clear of the class to finish third. After a consistent season, Chloe Clarke took Reserve Champion in the series.

Blistering speed

A blisteringly fast jump-off decided the 138 1.15m with Charlie Flynn and Knud van Orchid’s in full flight to take the win from RDS Champion, Cliodhna McEvoy and Etoile Des Chesnais, with Cathal McKeon-Devaney taking third place on Ruby Brown. Charlie Flynn was crowned Overall Premier Champion with Lucia Keane taking Reserve.

Charlie Flynn and Knud van Orchid’s, winner of the Ballinroe 138 Pony Premier 1.15m final at the National Pony Championships \ Laurence Dunne Jumpinaction.net

The 148 1.30 riders had to brave the elements and a beefy track, but 10 combinations managed to make it through to the jump-off. Zara-Jane Kelly and Romabout took their third win of the series, securing their Overall Premier Champion title, while Annie Boland was in great form, taking second and third places with K-Little Hero and home-produced Candy Coco respectively. Charlie Flynn took Reserve Champion.

Plusvital Sand 1 played host to the Elite Equine and Duffy Group Ireland National Pony League Finals. Tim Morton and Parkhill Crackerjack won the 128 80cm, Sarah Delaney and Flight of Earls wagtail won the 138 90cm and Mark Neilan and Parkroe Jane won the 148 1m.

The Ark Equine U8 and O8/U10 National Discovery Finals took place in Theault Sand 2 where Zara Moore and Smokegun were crowned Overall U8 winners and Ella McManus (L), Alison O’Callaghan (M), Saoirse Leanard (C) and Caleb Mitchell (U) were crowned the U8 regional winners. The regional winners in the O8/U10 section were Hvar Kelly (L), Maeve Nesbitt (U), Lauren Woods (M) and Elaine Briscoe (C) while Elaine Briscoe won the Overall title.

Memory

The final class of the day in the International Sand on Saturday was the Jack de Bromhead Speed Final, a class that allows us all to celebrate a boy who grew up with and is missed by this generation of children.

The children scrambled up onto the bank beneath the statue of Tír na nÓg to watch and cheer on the light hearted lunacy of a class that sees U10 riders competing against 148 riders, with all ages in between and the height of the fences handicapped accordingly.

The combinations were selected from the top three in each of the Derby classes earlier in the day. Charlie Curran, Tommy Codd, Mark Brown, Helen Walsh, Jack Rush, Alex Sheehan, Lily Russell, Lucy Kent, Sarah Jane Tarpey, Priya Mai Cosgrave, Josh Fitzgerald, and Lucy McCarthy as well as sisters, Mia and Georgia de Bromhead made for an exciting class.

Incredibly, it was one of the youngest competitors, nine-year-old Jack Rush who proved unbeatable, taking home the beautifully handcrafted memorial trophy as well as a fence made in Jack’s memory and there were memorial coolers for all who competed.