LAST Sunday, the Kildare Branch of the Irish Pony Club hosted a Connolly’s Red Mills eventing qualifier at Punchestown, where the organisers ran off 10 classes in a very efficient manner.

Dressage commenced in some arenas as early as 8am and the scoring team had all results posted and everything packed away by 7.30pm. Both jumping phases had an influence on the placings.

Section A of the Intermediate class was won on her amazing dressage score of 12.25 penalties by Shillelagh Branch member Lucy Keane on Ballycreen Kings Mistress, who she also competes at EI100 (J) level with Eventing Ireland. The eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Kings Master is owned by well-known Co Wicklow photographer Siobhan English, a former editor of Irish Horse World.

Co Limerick’s Ben Buckley finished second on the excellent score of 19.75 with the former four-star international eventer Tullabeg Flamenco, the now 15-year-old ISH gelding on whom Sam Watson was a member of the Irish team at the 2019 European eventing championships in Luhmühlen, Germany, and the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. A pole down show jumping meant that the Meaths’ Sophie May Nolan lost out on second place, as she completed on 24.25 with My Ballybrack Blue, a 12-year-old ISH mare, who she too competes at EI100 (J) level with Eventing Ireland.

The result was a lot closer in Section B, where the winner was the Louths’ Billy Winters, who completed on his first phase score (24 penalties) with the 13-year-old grey gelding Newtowns Silver Bobby. Representing the Bray Branch, Holly Smith finished second on Brightside (24.25), ahead of the Co Limericks’ Harry Buckley on Whiskey (25). Four show jumping penalties proved very costly for Meath member Anna Marchant, who finished fourth riding her mother Cepta’s ISH mare Kilmoon Michelle (26).

Intro Intermediate

Seven combinations were eliminated over the Adam Stevenson-designed cross-country track in Section A of the Intro Intermediate, which was won, on her flatwork mark, by Lily-Mai Berry of the Killinick Branch riding the ex-racehorse Coburg (26 penalties). This seven-year-old gelding by Sageburg ran unplaced in one bumper and four hurdle races between April 2022 and August 2023 when trained by Liam Cusack.

Here, too, show jumping penalties proved costly, with Tipperary’s Katie Coonan dropping to second having had a pole down with the 13-year-old ISH gelding Classie Hughes (27.75). She and the dun did, however, finish well clear of the third-placed combination of North Kilkenny’s Kayleigh Hoban on Alamo Trigger (33.75).

There was far less grief in Section B, although the leaders after dressage, The Kingdom’s Courtney Hunt and Harp Bluebell (21.5 penalties), dropped right out of contention with a stop across the country. The honours instead went to Carlow’s Lily Redmond on Cartown Trending (23), a nine-year-old ISH mare by Future Trend. Garavaglia Drion of Newcastle Lyons finished second on Jim Delaney (23.25), with Offaly’s Emily Conlan placing third on Clogheen Cody (25.75).

Offaly’s Saoirse Carty on Sandy Banks won Junior Section B at the IPC eventing qualifier at Punchestown \ Mel Doyle

The Kildares struck twice at Junior level, first winning Section A through the efforts of India Cox on her dressage score with a real Branch favourite, the Connemara gelding Bruckless Elmar (28.25 penalties). This 19-year-old Linsfort Boy gelding represented Ireland at the 2021 European pony eventing championships in Strzegom, Poland, where he was ridden by Grace Murtagh. Representing the Ward Union Branch, Clara Cully finished second on Colemanstown Fred (29). There were seven eliminations across the country in this class and one retirement.

The day’s hosts doubled up in Section C, where there were two eliminations show jumping and eight on the final leg. There was also another great dressage score, 15.75 penalties, which was recorded by the all-the-way winner, Kate Moore on Epic Wildfire, a 21-year-old gelding by Ashfield Festy, with whom the rider has started competing at EI90 level with Eventing Ireland.

Back to Section B, where the honours were claimed by Offaly’s Saoirse Carty, who managed to hold on to her lead despite picking up four show jumping penalties for a total of 26.25 on the 15-year-old grey gelding Sandy Banks. Snapping at Carty’s heels were Bray’s Chloe Lalloo on OMS Lady Esquire (27.5) and Kildare’s Hogan Byrne on another Branch favourite, AC Remus (28). In this section, there was one elimination over the coloured poles and nine across the country, where one combination retired.

There was a very close result in Section D, where Newcastle Lyons’ Rachel McMonagle completed on her dressage score with North Star Hunter (30.5 penalties). South Union’s Saoirse Tagney and The Kingdom’s Molly Trant finished second and third respectively on Gorthanedin Mist and Pavarotti, although both completed on their first-phase score of 31. Here, there was one elimination in the show jumping ring, five across the country and four retirements.

The neighbouring Branches of Tipperary and Scarteen provided the winners of the divided Under 12s class, the Tipperarys being represented by Cara Hally on Ardfhionain Springtime (20.75 penalties), while flying the flag solo on the day for the Scarteens was Jamie Crowe on Castlequarter Rambo (21.75).

As the Overlander/Irish Pony Club National Minimus Championships are taking place this weekend, there are no one-day events scheduled. A qualifier will be hosted by the Scarteen Branch on Sunday next, June 30th, at Hillcrest Equestrian Centre, with two listed for the following Sunday, at Ballycahane (Co Limerick Branch) and at Stradbally Hall (Co Laois Branch).

Jamie Crowe won the Under 12s Section B for the Scarteens riding Castlequarter Rambo at the IPC eventing qualifier at Punchestown \ Mel Doyle