THERE may well have been international eventing at Millstreet last weekend but, for members of the Irish Pony Club, the focus was on Ballinamona where, on Saturday, the Waterford Branch hosted the latest round of the IPC/Connolly’s Red Mills eventing series.

There were 162 entries in total with 33 of these being at Intermediate level. Seventeen started in Section A where Kildare’s Áron Reid recorded an all-the-way success on the 19-year-old dun gelding Rumbling Titan, winning with five penalty points in hand over his nearest rival.

There was just one elimination in that division and also in Section B where the honours went to Wexford’s Rebekah Rochowiak who, similarly, led from the outset to complete on her winning dressage score with her nine-year-old Ars Vivendi mare, Greannanstown Vivendi Girl.

Disappointingly, seven of the 17 starters failed to finish in the Intro Intermediate where another daughter of the Holstein stallion Ars Vivendi, the 10-year-old bay Miss Vivendi Imp, improved from second after dressage to win on her flatwork mark under Waterford’s Aoife O’Brien.

The host Branch were rewarded for their efforts also in the non-qualifying Junior Starter won by Lucy Jolly on Ballyerk Gallileo.

Kildare double

The Kildares also recorded a double which was completed in Section A of the very well-supported Junior class by Phonsie Wardell who led throughout on the seven-year-old bay mare, Ballybrit Kate. The Killinick Branch struck in Section B thanks to Keira Crowther who also recorded an all-the-way success on the 12-year-old appaloosa gelding Tomoka Spots.

The optimum time ruling had to be engaged to find a result in Section A of the Under 12s’ class as both the Brays’ Laura Treacy, riding Little Feet, and North Kilkenny’s Mia Perry on Mulvey’s Marble completed on their joint-winning dressage scores of 23.5. In the end, the honours went to Treacy and her 20-year-old black gelding.

There was a clear-cut, if narrow, victory in Section B where the very much in form Evie Kennedy, representing the Tipperary Branch, completed on her winning dressage score with the Connemara gelding Ballymurray Star, an 18-year-old grey by Glenayre Silver Fox.

This eventing series continues tomorrow when the Carlow Branch hosts the fourth of 14 scheduled qualifiers at Newtownbarry House, Bunclody.