THANKFULLY, apart from a few heavy showers late in the afternoon, it was a mainly dry day at Grove last Sunday when the Tipperary Branch of the Irish Pony Club hosted the 10th leg of this season’s Connolly’s Red Mills eventing series.

There were nearly 300 combinations in action over 10 classes which saw eight dressage arenas in use and two show jumping rings. The first competitors in the dressage phase entered their respective arena at 8.30am while the last combination on the cross-country course, which was designed by Graham Bell of Equipark, came through the finish at roughly 6.20pm.

The hosts were the only Branch to have a double on the day. Kate Walsh – or Kate A. Walsh as she is referred to under Eventing Ireland rules – won the Open on her dressage score (29.5 penalties) with Lisheen Fork Lightning. Walsh and Clare Corballis’ 17-year-old chesnut gelding have won two EI100 (J) classes this season and have recorded some good placings at EI110 level.

Kilkenny’s Aisling Dwan picked up one show jumping time penalty on her way to finishing second with her father John’s traditionally-bred Irish Sport Horse gelding Lackelly Star (34.8). Although she has yet to do so this year, for the past two seasons Dwan has contested Show Jumping Ireland competitions on this 2012 bay who is by the Connemara stallion Carraig Eibhir out of an unraced Supreme Leader mare.

The Tipperary double came up in Section B of the Under 12s class where Robyn O’Reilly narrowly claimed the honours on board the Connemara gelding Rocket Fire, a 17-year-old grey by Currachmore Cashel. Offaly’s Saoirse Carty led from start to finish to win Section A with the 13-year-old grey gelding Sandy Banks.

While his mother Sarah was placing second in the EI115 at Ballindenisk on her thoroughbred gelding Whydah, Phonsie Wardell was able to claim bragging rights in the family as he won Section A of the Intermediate class here for the Kildare Branch. Wardell junior was on board the Connemara mare Ballybrit Kate, an eight-year-old bay by Tubber Dew Drop who he has produced since she was three.

Also completing on her first phase score to win Section B was West Waterford’s Isobel Maxwell with the traditionally-bred ISH gelding Albanos Diamond, a 17-year-old Albano grey.

Led from pillar to post

Rian Tagney led from start to finish to win the sole Intro Intermediate class for South Union with the seven-year-old skewbald gelding, JVS Jester Million. Another class which didn’t divide was the Novice Junior where Carlow’s Kizzy Wade topped the leaderboard throughout on yet another Connemara, the 11-year-old Walstead Cartier mare Inishturkbeg Cloisin.

The first of three sections of Juniors was won by the in-form Waterford combination of Julie McDonald riding the 18-year-old Connemara gelding Shanbo Hazels Boy (by Monaghanstown Boy) while United’s Hayley Hallissey landed Section B on board the Connemara gelding Old Meadow Joe, a 14-year-old son of Bobby Joe.

Bray’s Sarah O’Riordan narrowly claimed the honours in Section C with Kilcreene Jasper, a 14-year-old gelding who is by the Connemara stallion Callowfeenish Mairtin.

A report on the Killinick Branch’s traditional mid-week qualifier at Sleedagh on Wednesday will be carried in next week’s edition.

The Connolly’s Red Mills series continues tomorrow when the Kildare Branch hosts a qualifier at Punchestown.

Before then of course, members of the IPC will be converging on Barnadown in Co Wexford this coming week for the annual Festival.

Combined training competitions for Under 10s and Under 12s plus novices take place on Wednesday. Pure dressage and combined training for Juniors upwards on Thursday will be followed by the musical ride competition while show jumping commences that day with the Alice Mernagh Under 12s competition.

Friday sees the Robbie Bailey (Juniors) and John Ledingham (Intermediate) competitions take centre stage followed by the Open and senior classes.

There will be three mounted games sessions for Juniors (Wednesday), Senior Bs and pairs (Thursday) and Under 10s (Friday).