CARLA Williamson is enjoying an excellent season with Eventing Ireland but is still competing in working hunter classes and last Saturday afternoon, on her weekend break from boarding school, she won the Carr & Day & Martin working hunter championship at Balmoral Show.

Williamson’s willing partner was her mother Janet’s British-bred mare Comberton Coda who topped the line-up in the 143cms class ahead of Carol Coad’s Sunny Girl. Also put though to the final by British judges Morean Hamilton (jumping phase) and Stuart Hollings (conformation, etc) were Cathy Cooper’s Corries Jack In A Box and Grainne Malone’s Mister O’Malley, who were first and second in the 133cms class, plus Marjorie Hardiman’s Creganna Dandini and Siobhan Cosgrove’s Clonross Razzmatazz who filled the same positions in the 153cms class.

In the championship decider, Comberton Coda was the youngest of the six at the age of 11 while the youngest of the other quintet was the Ellie Rogan-ridden Corries Jack In A Box. It was that 13-year-old grey gelding, once the mount of the late Tiggy Hancock, who was beckoned into the reserve slot before Williamson was similarly signalled to claim the title with Comberton Coda.

Previously produced in Britain by the Homer family, Comberton Coda rounded off last year by placing fourth in the 143cms working hunter class at the Horse of The Year Show and that will again be a target this term although this will mean trips to Britain.

Already this season, the 11-year-old Stanhopes Diddycoy mare finished second in the Royal International qualifier at the Northern Ireland Festival, behind Danny’s Pride, and won her class at the recent Irish Pony Society Kildare/North Leinster Region show at Killossery Lodge Stud.

The next target for Williamson and Comberton Coda will be the IPS Sports Pony Challenge qualifier in Mullingar tomorrow with the ultimate aim being selection for the European working hunter pony championships in Scotland in early August. Williamson has both Galco and Rockon Pedro entered in the CCI2*-S class at the upcoming Millsteeet international (June 1st to 4th).