THE Shillelagh Branch hosted the sixth leg of the Irish Pony Club/Connolly’s Red Mills eventing series last Saturday at the Tinahely Riding Club grounds in Coolboy.

Killinick member Isabelle Barry has moved into third place in the Intermediate league having won Saturday’s qualifier on her dressage score with the Connemara gelding Kildromin Mentor, a nine-year-old grey by Carraig Éibhir.

The Shillelaghs were repaid for their efforts in running this qualifier with two wins. The Branch first struck in the Intro Intermediate where Jane Fitzgerald recorded a comfortable, all-the-way success with Broomfield Banner. This was a third win in the series for Fitzgerald and the Irish Sport horse mare, an 11-year-old grey by Silver Banner, who also won an EI90 at Rosanna (2) last month.

The Shillelagh double came up in Section C of the Junior class thanks to the efforts of Ned Kelly who again led from start to finish with Tinnecarrig Milo, an 11-year-old dun gelding with whom he has an excellent record in working hunter competitions.

The Laois Branch won Section A through all-the-way winners, Maya Byrne Moran and the 19-year-old bay mare Far Away Tale, while the honours in Section B went to Hazel Gleeson who also led from start to finish on the 17-year-old skewbald gelding Remondi Bobtail. That Newcastle Lyons combination currently leads the Junior league on 24 points ahead of Byrne Moran and Far Away Tale who are on 19.

The North Kilkennys’ Mia Perry was left in the lead following show jumping in Section A of the Under 12 competition which she won on her flatwork mark with the 20-year-old skewbald mare Mulveys Marble with whom she now heads the league on 22 points. The Kildares’ struck in Section B through Alice Curley and LA Dream Machine who too benefitted from another’s misfortune in the jumping phases to win on their dressage score.

The IPC/Connolly’s Red Mills series continues tomorrow at Ballycahane, Crecora, Co Limerick and at Stradbally, Co Laois.