DESPITE the wet morning, the second of the RDS Irish Draught/Connemara qualifiers ran very much to time last Saturday, when the Ryan family welcomed competitors and supporters to Scarteen.

The flatwork and conformation phases of the performance qualifiers were judged by Belinda Johnson and Anne Croome Carroll, while Trish Lalor, who had been on duty at the Young Eventhorse Series qualifier at the same venue the previous Tuesday, judged the jumping phase.

It was noticeable that, in both breed performance classes, the qualifying tickets went to animals with previous experience of competing at Dublin while, as ever, clear rounds proved very influential.

Ridden for Clare Corballis by Kate Walsh, Eventing Ireland’s Youth Ambassador for 2024 and a member of the Tipperary Branch of the Irish Pony Club, Beechtree Watchful recorded the day’s highest score (257 points) when winning Section A of the older Connemara performance hunter class. Also qualifying in second was the 10-year-old Drymills Bridgeboy gelding Achill Allegro (238.5), who was ridden for Catherine Fitzpatrick by Ava Skye Byrne

As well as qualifying for last year’s final where they placed sixth, Walsh and Beechtree Watchful competed seven times under Eventing Ireland rules at EI100 (J) level, finishing seventh once, third twice, second twice and winning three times. Their last outing – and win – of 2023 was in the EI100 (J) National Championship at Kilguilkey House in September. They have been out twice this year, finishing second of 26 at Crecora in April and fifth of 26 at Hillcrest last month.

Beechtree Watchful, a 13-year-old roan gelding by Mirah’s Oyster Bandit, was bred in Co Wexford by Adrian Morris, out of the Templebready Bo’Sun mare Woodlawn Coolagh.

Experienced duo

The well-known and vastly experienced combination of Emily Marnane and her mother Melanie’s Danny’s Pride, another Co Tipperary combination, ran out the narrow winners of Section B, qualifying on a total of 235.5 points. Lisa Murphy also qualified with Peter McGrath’s Parkroe Rio (235), an eight-year-old dun gelding by Rasmus.

Bred in Co Galway by Edwin Murray, the 15-year-old Danny’s Pride is by Fernville Danny out of Cora’s Lady (by Village Boy).

Already qualified, Charlene Fitzpatrick partnered Geraldine MacCann’s six-year-old Lightening Star gelding Erne Valley Shadow to win Section A of the five to seven-year-old class on a total of 240 points. Qualifying in second (237) and third (236) were two 2017 geldings, the Abbey O’Driscoll-owned and ridden Caoranbeg Comanche (by Mountain Cascade) and the Paul Dempsey-partnered Carnhill Stormy Boy (by Dunloughan Scot).

Scottish international event rider Becky Scott, who is based at Ralph Conroy’s Milchem Equestrian Centre in Tynagh, qualified in first place in Section B with Glenford Rose (230.5 points). Owned by her Athenry breeder, Aine O’Callaghan, this six-year-old grey mare, who has done a small amount of registered jumping, is by Westonhouse Straboe Bobby out of Glenford Lola (by Ardravinna Andy).

Here, Caoimhe Eivers filled the runner-up spot on Sophie Countess Von Maltzan’s already-qualified seven-year-old Silver Shadow stallion Bettyspark Shadow (227), with the second golden ticket going to Christina Skelly, who finished third on her own Black Shadow gelding Misty Moonlight Shadow (226.5), whose dam, Corclough Melody, is a daughter of I Love You Melody.