Katy Saunders

THE waiting is over and for many successful combinations heading to the RDS, the travelling, the preparation, the coaching and the stress has been worth it as August 5th-9th is now a secure date on their calendars.

Barnadown Equestrian, set amidst the rolling countryside on the outskirts of Gorey, Co Wexford, hosted the final TRI-sponsored RDS pony qualifiers last Saturday, courtesy of Maurice and Felicity Cousins and their team. Nigel Jess, course designer from the first qualifier, returned to oversee proceedings at the final stage, ably assisted by his father Raymond.

From a field of 51, there were 12 first round clears out of which only two jumped clear in the first jump-off. The only combination to finish on a zero score was the already qualified Abbie Sweetnam and Dynamite Spartacus in a time of 36.46, this combination having taken a brilliant second place in a very fast class in Hagen in the middle of June. Sweetnam then went on to win the Grand Prix on her other pony Spartacus Reape, a resounding success story for the youngest pony athlete on the squad in Germany.

Harry Allen and Acapella Z took second place when accumulating seven faults in the jump-off, this filled his quota. Kayleigh Soden finished in third place with Boolagh Gypsy Boy (0/4 40.06), this combination also picked up some good placings in Hagen while her other pony Castlehill King was part of the team who took joint second in the Nations Cup.

Only 37 started in the 138cms division and with one place carried from Mullingar, the statistics suggested that it could be tight, nine jumped the required first round clear and as two could not take places there was still going to be one short. This class went straight to the second jump-off which proved to be very exciting as Abbie Sweetnam tried for her second win of the day on Never Last Spartacus when this pair jumped clear in 35.71 only to be beaten by Lucy Shanahan and Creative Dancer also clear but two hundredths of a second faster 35.51.

Third place went to Jason Foley and the already qualified Kiltormer Hero (0/0 36.73) with younger brother Max having only taken over the ride on Ferrybank Roy prior to the class, claiming fifth place and qualifying for the RDS, this pair were clear in 47.76 and created a family first for the Foley’s as the two boys shared the line -up. Fourth place was won by David Lawler on Blessington Willfly as this pair qualified for the second year in succession when going clear in 43.53.

In the 128cms category, 19 combinations produced the necessary first round clear with 13 of these making it into the second jump-off. Winning the class and heading to Dublin for their first time was Katie Power and Remington Steal as they completed on a zero score in 39.45. Also making their trip worthwhile, Power qualified Trendy Royale for the 138cms classes, this young athlete is trained by Paddy O’Donnell and looks to be destined for great things in the future. Taking second place was Ryan Sweetnam, the youngest member of the Sweetnam family, as he steered Hollycreek Oran Splendour to a clear round in 40.55.

BALLSBRIDGE CALLING

Tom Wachman took third place on Murphy Spartacus as he too went clear, his time of 40.86. This gives Wachman two shots at the title in the RDS as he makes his maiden voyage to Ballsbridge.

Ulster representative Niamh McEvoy also filled her quota as she finished in fourth place with Teresa McKenna’s Dutch-bred stallion Jacodi’s Anja’s Admiral (0/0/0 41.66), this is a very recent partnership as the stallion has been campaigned on the British circuit for the past 12 months.

Emily Costello booked her ticket on Knock Your Socks Off when taking fifth place (0/0/0 42.75) ahead of Kate Rohan and Need For Speed (0/0/0 43.60) with Erin Crawford and Little Miss Millie taking the final qualifying place and filling her quota (0/0/0 44.26).

Concluding the action in the pony arena was the 148cms six/seven-year-old qualifier which attracted a field of 56 where 15 six-year-olds and seven from the seven-year-old section jumped clear in the first round. There were six through to the second jump-off from the younger ponies and only two from the seven-year-old division.

Ulster native Michael Roche won the class on his mother Fiona’s six-year-old Bellegrove Diva jumping clear in 32.57 ahead of Holly Anne Sweetnam as she took runner-up prize on the already qualified Ultimate Spartacus (0/0/0 34.98). Third place went to Eva Boland riding Mary Boland’s six-year-old and already qualified Miss Bailey (0/0/0 35.14) with fourth and first qualifying place going to Eamon Connell’s six-year-old Dark Silk, ridden by Christopher Connell (0/0/4 37.09).

Local girl Emer Kavanagh and the bay seven-year-old Crossgales Boy owned by her father Pat finished in fifth place (0/0/8 36.50) as Aimee Barry and six-year-old Lislan Picola, owned by Joe Barry were awarded sixth place (0/0/8 37.37).

The SJI Pony Committee wished competitors all the best for Dublin and thanked TRI for their ongoing support of Ireland’s pony athletes.