THE pressure was on younger riders last weekend, as they travelled to The Meadows in a bid to book their place at the Dublin Horse Show at the final pony, young rider and Children on Horses qualifier.

The 128cm decider went down to the wire, as 14 of the 63 starters booked their place in the third round against the clock. Taking the win was Jennifer Meagher aboard the Fiona Boland-owned Sasha, when she galloped home in 32.22.

Jennifer was chased home by Alice Steele and Sparkling Miss Leglands, when they came home clear in 32.74. A clear from Kate Hurley and Brookhall Elizabeth in a time of 33.62 saw them take third place. Penny O’Brien followed closely behind with the Jill Twomey-owned My Little Liesel, clear in 34.15 for eventual fourth place.

Lucy Kent made no mistakes with Hollycreek Oran Splendour and their time of 35.85 saw them secure fifth. Little divided the next placings, as Annie Hughes Kennedy and the very experienced Hes A Touch of Magic crossed the line with nothing to add in a time of 35.90 for sixth place. Sarah Egan followed closely behind, delivering a clear with DHS Summer in a time of 35.99 for seventh.

Claiming the joint win in the 128cm six/seven year-olds was Charlotte Foley and the six-year-old Ardville Crystal Clear and Katie McMunn on the six-year-old Loggy Star Lubelie on a score of 90.5. Taking the other place was Mia Maloney and the seven-year-old Carraghy Sky on a score of 86.

138cm

The 138cm division went down to two rounds, with only one combination jumping double clear. Delivering that clear and taking the win was Connaught rider Padraig Howley Jnr and Conazar Jayne in a time of 46.17 seconds.

Alanna Keeling and Tynagh Sunshine put in a very fast round of 40.36, but four faults meant she had to settle for the runner-up spot. Josephine Nell and Ramiro Van Het Overlede Goed finished on seven faults in a time of 54.16 for third place, ahead of Willow O’Connor aboard Clive Swindell’s Tullaree Casanova, who finished on nine faults in a time of 52.05.

Ellie Bingham and Little Pretender withdrew from the jump-off, but their first round time of 70.33 saw them take fifth. Jack Dore and Seefin Breeze was fastest of the four-faulters in the first round in 75.34 and saw them take sixth. Also carrying four faults in the first round, in a time of 75.83, was Alice Hartford and Blennerville Surprise for seventh place.

In the 138cm six and seven-year-old division, three places were up for grabs. Taking the win was Zoe Mellett aboard Trilbie Cook’s Lynncot Lady Eleanora (7yo), when they were awarded 88 points. Tom Geary and the six-year-old Teeveeny Duchess took second place on a score of 86.5. Third place belonged to Sonny McGovern and Candy Surprise (6yo) on a score of 86.

148cm

In the 148cm division, 43 battled it out in the three round competition. Taking the win was Munster’s Charlie Flynn and HK Zena, owned by Susan Keane, when he maintained a clean sheet in a time of 34.61.

Alex Sheehan and Ballynoe Lurgan Diamond opted for the longer lines and it paid off, as they came home clear in 39.56. Harry Rush and Simple took third, when clear in 40 seconds, ahead of Ciara Geaney and Slaney Capitalist Cruise in 41.21. A clear from Zara Sharkey and iFlex in 42.19 proved good enough for fifth, ahead of Jamie Clarke and MVS Carvelle, who was clear in 43.39. Zara-Jane Kelly took seventh place with Romabout, when they were fastest of the four-faulters in 39.74.

148cm six/seven year-olds

The 148cm six and seven-year-olds proved to be a competitive decider, with 10 treble clears. Leading the victory lap was Charlie Flynn and the seven-year-old JDF Montana, when they stopped the clock in a time of 33.09. Johan Fitzpatrick Burns partnered Kinamara Dunn Boy (7yo) to a clear in 34.92.

Alice Moloney and the Martin Doyle-owned Ralph Van De Achterhoek (7yo) secured third place, when they crossed the line in a time of 35.20, ahead of Chloe Fenton and Burdal Miami (6yo) in 36.57. Jack Cash and the seven-year-old Comme Delicius Z were clear in 37.16 for fifth place, while filling sixth place was Tom Collins and Mirahdor in 37.21.