THE first Open class in this year’s Connolly’s Red Mills/Irish Pony Club eventing series was held last Sunday thanks to co-operation between the Island and Scarteen Branches, who had both advertised an Open at their respective qualifiers, plus that of riders and parents/guardians.

As neither Branch had received enough entries to make it financially viable to build an Open track, the Island’s secretary, and event organiser, Marie McDonald approached the Scarteens with a view to a merger. The Scarteens quickly agreed and, with the support of Rodney and Beth O’Donnell of the Hillcrest Equestrian Centre, Galbally, it was they who hosted the seven-runner class.

“The O’Donnells were very accommodating and were happy to build an Open course,” said Claire Hughes, one of the joint-organisers of the Co Limerick event. “We had a very busy but good day in a lovely venue. There had been a lot of heavy rain overnight but we were very fortunate with the weather on Sunday with just two thundery showers. The ground held up well.”

The Scarteens’ representative, Jessie O’Sullivan, had to settle for second in the Open, on her dressage score with My Mountain Grey (33 penalties). This combination was placed in both EI100 (J) outings they contested this season. Meath’s Clodagh McGauran claimed the honours when completing on her winning first phase score with Cruising Caricello (29.75). Owned by Yvonne Farrell, the 13-year-old Caricello gelding and McGauran had finished 17th of 30 in the CCI2*-S at Millstreet earlier in the month.

With the only sub-20 penalty dressage score followed by a double clear inside the time, West Waterford’s Siofra Marsh, a former Silver Spurs winner, recorded a comprehensive victory in the 27-strong Intermediate class on MicMacs First (19.5 penalties). This 15-year-old S Creevagh Ferro gelding had a lot of winning and placed form a few seasons ago under Siofra’s mother Niamh.

The Kingdom Branch recorded three wins, starting in the Intro Intermediate where a pole down show jumping proved expensive for the dressage winners on 29 penalties, West Waterford’s Alice Roch-Perks and Bornio.

They thus dropped to second behind Ellie Holmes and Rastaman (32.75) who, the previous Sunday, had competed hors concours in the EI90 at Ballindenisk. Rastaman, an 11-year-old unraced thoroughbred gelding by Indian Danehill, was previously campaigned by British international Sam Ecroyd.

Also on the mark for The Kingdom were Sophie Cullotty, who recorded a runaway victory in the Novice class with Monavaha Dolly, and Lexi Keane who had nearly 10 points in hand at the conclusion of the Under 12s B where she rode Woodfield Prancer. There was a much closer result to Section A where Carbery’s Elaine Whelton was declared the winner on B.E.C. Fanta (28.25).

The Junior class was also split in two, Waterford’s Lillymai Walsh striking in Section A on board her Newtownbarry House winner Bawnabraher Buachaill (24.25 penalties) while Tipperary’s Ailbhe Hally topped the final leaderboard in Section B with Ard Fhionain Springtime (25.50).