THE final qualifier for three of the four flat Connemara classes at the Dublin Horse Show was staged last Saturday at Rincoola, where the section judge, Joanne Quirke, faced a total start list of 95 ponies, a figure only surpassed by the 107 entered at Scarteen last month.

At all four qualifiers, the biggest entry was in the four and five-year-old class – although only marginally so at Scarteen. Last Saturday, this was easily the largest class, with 39 ponies entered compared to 27 in the six-year-old and upwards class for riders aged 17 and upwards and 29 in the six-year-old and upwards class for riders between 10 and 17.

In no particular order, the final five tickets for the younger pony class at Dublin were awarded to two four-year-old mares, Cornfield Cressida (Tempo Active Atlas – Ardbear Mavis, by Moorland Snowy River) and Scregg Lady (Gloves Bobby – Coreen Sky, by Clonberne Rebel); two four-year-old geldings, Eve’s Sundance Boy (Western Boy – Killea Anna, by Seafield Silver Dun) and Rockwell Mocca (Rogaire na Locha – Moanbaun Lily, by Maam Hill); and the five-year-old gelding Bofin Cove Finn (Rathcoona Cove – Slievefinn Sally, by Rosenaharley Rowley).

At 12 years of age, the Emma Mackey-ridden gelding Skellorn Prairie Starlight (Skellorn Monarch – Dominique Donna, by Millsfield Coruna), who was bred in Britain by Kerry Wainwright, was the oldest pony to be awarded a qualifying ticket in the six-year-old and upwards class for riders aged 17 and upwards.

In the equivalent class for young riders, last August’s winner of the final at Dublin, Alyson Dixon’s now 12-year-old mare Monaincha Belle (Kinvara Boy – Leam Silver Rosek, by I Love You Melody) qualified under the owner’s younger daughter, Asya.

Throughout this year’s Young Eventhorse Series and these RDS Connemara and Irish Draught qualifiers, organiser Angela McGahern has been assisted on the day by 17-year-old Rachel Higgins.

A member of the Longford Branch of the Irish Pony Club – as was her predecessor, Jean Kenny – Rachel, won’t be in a position to help next year, as she will be sitting her Leaving Certificate exams.