Margie McLoone

FOLLOWING a trial day at Coilog earlier in the month, 24 riders have been long listed by the Irish Pony Society’s hunter pony committee for the European working hunter pony championships which take place in Grantham, England over two days in late August.

Forty-three combinations were assessed in the championships/Gold Cup format of dressage, working hunter and show jumping by Carole Douglas, Johnny Kyle, Denise Norton and Philip Scott. Those selected for the initial block of training, including three riders with two ponies each, were informed by letter last week.

Ideally, all should attend the three Friday sessions at Abbotstown on May 8th, Coilog on May 22nd and again at the National Horse Sport Arena in Abbotstown on June 5th. However, as some riders may be sitting their Leaving or Junior certificate exams at this time, mandatory attendance is being restricted to two of the three dates.

Once this block of training has been completed, a further assessment will be needed to whittle down the numbers for a second, on the completion of which the names of those selected for the two teams, plus two reserves, will be announced.

The hunter pony committee of Dorothy Guilford (chair), Yvonne Byrne and Mary McCann have recommended that all those on the long list compete at the IPS working hunter spring show in Coilog on Saturday, May 16th.

The ponies and riders selected for training are: 133cms – Knocknaveagh Lady Arwen (Maegan Flemming), Twyford Eile (Ruby Hughes), Dun For Now (Tiggy Hancock) and Dunmaster (Jane Field).

143cms – Ashfield Troubador (Eabha Costello), Ruaile Buaile Bailey (Rebecca Coonan), Lake Valley (Kara Stanbridge), Josephine’s Pride (Billie Mae Geoghegan), Farran Zephyr Blue (Lucy Hancock), Foyes Choice (James Phillips), Ardfry Jade (Pataire Crawford), Gold Digga VI (Rianna Marnane), Clonross Giselle (Sadhbh Peelo), Creganna Belle (Jane Field) and Sally The Great (Jo-Anne Madden).

153cms – My Rockstown Two (Leah Heffernan), Gloster Boy (Lydia Dawson), Bob Marley (Shona Lynch), Golden Orphan (Emma Jane Leggett), Comical Con (Lucy Hancock), Master Columbus (Chloe Lacey), Knocklucas Chloe (Susie Doyle), Ardfry Balmoral (Pataire Crawford) and Rathbawn Sushi (Susie Osborne).

158cms – Machnos Secret (Rosemary Wentges), Mullentine Master Paddy (Sarah Hall) and Lissangle Quilos Diamond (Eliza Hancock).

Ireland won the first European championships held in Bavaria in the early 1980s with the quartet of Sharon Donnelly, Jean Errity, Maria Gleeson and Tara Brennan. Among others to represent the country over the years was dual Olympic event rider Mark Kyle.