THE first opportunity for young horses to secure a place to compete at this year’s Dublin Horse Show took place in Barnadown, Co Wexford on Wednesday.

First up in the sand arena was the seven and eight-year-old qualifier. With just nine places on offer, competition was always going to be stiff, and some 87 lined out. Course designer Colm Quinn set them a challenging track which saw 21 keep a clean sheet over the 12 fence first round to progress to the timed decider.

Ethan Ahearne riding Dermott Walsh’s eight-year-old LVS Goldrush (Stakkato Gold x Stakkato) set the pace with a second clear round in a time of 38.16. This would earn them eventual third place and ensure their trip to the capital city in August.

Owner/rider Micheal Roche and his seven-year-old Mr Rocky Blue (Chacoon Blue x Artos Z) were second in. One fence down in 38.60 saw them out of the running. Susan Fitzpatrick and her own Belgian-bred mare Kallista De Baudgnies (Greco Sitte x Diamant De Semilly) also had one error for four faults.

Hannah Agnew’s seven-year-old MCS Leicester (Dallas VDL x Rose of Lennon) was disappointed with two down as fourth to go.

Nicola FitzGibbon partnered Langara Ventures’ seven-year-old gelding Galwaybay Sparkie (Galwaybay Penelope x Clinton) to a clear round but in a cautious time of 44.18 which left them outside the placings in 11th.

Molly Hughes Bravo riding Bravo Hughes Ltd’s home-bred seven-year-old mare HHS Orchidee (Le Roi x Luidam) lodged a foot-perfect round in 40.13 to secure sixth place and her golden ticket.

Susan Fitzpatrick and her second mount, another Belgian-bred seven-year-old Gallardo Z (George Z x Canturano Z) were clear in 38.20 for fourth place. Clem McMahon and Alistair McIvor’s Mr Basil (Plot Blue x Hermes De Reve) then had one down in 40.14 before GBBS Int Ltd’s seven-year-old Thor Ter Wilgen Z (Taran de la Pomme x Baloubet du Rouet), ridden by Kevin Gallagher, left all the fences up in 42.37.

This would be enough to put them into ninth place and secure the final qualifying place on offer that day.

Shane Moloney (RFL Comet), Gemma Phelan (Curraghgraigue Jack Bro) and Gerard Clarke and the Dutch-bred seven-year-old L all had fences down to go out of contention.

The next four combinations in - Susan Fitzpatrick and Keatingstown Mr Cool (Messenger x Chacco Blue), Richard Howley and his own mare Luna Leva, Molly Hughes Bravo and her mother Marions Hughes’ HHS Tokyo (Z Seven Ascot x Catoki) and Mikey Pender with HHS Cornetta (Cornet Obolensky x Acorado) all posted clear rounds in the jump-off, but only Fitzpatrick and Pender were fast enough to earn a top-nine place; Pender finishing second and Fitzpatrick taking fifth.

Robyn Moran and Fortside Clever Candy (Sligo Candy Boy x Lux Z) had one fence down before William Hickey’s Karmalensky (Cornet Obolensky x Ard VDl Douglas), ridden by his brother Patrick, was clear 41.65 to slot into eighth place.

Niamh McEvoy with Maeve Kelly’s MB Lorenzo R ( Tolan R x Voltaire) and Kevin Gallagher riding Max O’Reilly Hyland’s BP Limitless (Elvis Ter Putte x Laughton’s Flight) had one fence down each which put them out of the running.

Last to go was Rhys Williams riding Williams Sport Horses Ltd’s eight-year-old gelding Playboy JT Z. With plenty of experience, having won the class in the main arena at the RDS last as a seven-year-old, the duo used their advantage as last to go well and produced a double clear round stopping the clock at 37.51 to secure the class victory and another shot at glory in Dublin.