SINCE this column last appeared, there have been two Connolly’s Red Mills eventing qualifiers, the first, staged by the Waterford Branch in Area 3, taking place at the Bogossian family’s Ballinamona Equestrian Centre on Saturday, 3 June. Here, Araglen’s Clodagh Shanahan recorded a narrow success in the 24-runner Intermediate, where she completed on her winning dressage score with her mother Winnie’s Irish Sport Horse mare Coolfinn Vivendi (27 penalties). Shanahan competes this bay Ars Vivendi seven-year-old at EI110 (Junior) level with Eventing Ireland.

Meath’s Meabh Long also ended the day on her flat-work mark to place second with the ISH gelding Dunran Marvel (27.5), a 17-year-old son of Sirsan.

There were 21 starters in the Intro Intermediate, where the win was claimed on her dressage score by Offaly’s Leah Murphy, riding the seven-year-old liver chestnut mare Woodfield Misty (28.5). Representing the South Union Branch, Rian Tagney also jumped a double clear inside the time, to finish second on Jester (28.75).

The result in Section A of the Junior competition was also tight, with Tipperary’s Evie Kennedy recording an all-the-way success on the Connemara gelding Little Dromin Phoenix (23.3), a 14-year-old grey by Lettermuckoo Lad. Bray’s Sadie Sandys had to settle for second on Ardeo Skywalker (23.8).

There were 28 starters in that division and 26 in Section B, where the final leaderboard was topped by Newcastle Lyons’ Síofra Garavaglia Drion on the working hunter pony Jim Delaney (24.5), an 18-year-old bay gelding by Westside Mirah. North Kilkenny’s Mia Perry finished second on Mulvey’s Marble (26.3), who she partnered to victory in last season’s Junior individual championship and league.

Twenty-five combinations faced the starter in Section C, where the honours went to the South Union Branch’s Samantha Gash Hickey, another to have led throughout, on Charlie’s Freedom (25.8). The host Branch’s Conor Cusack finished second here with the working hunter pony Killone Dasher (28.8), a 16-year-old dun gelding by Templebready Fear Bui.

Forty-two combinations faced the starter in the sole Under 12s class which, on her first phase score, was won by Carlow’s Emily Flavin-Redmond riding Polo (30.75).

Carlow Branch

Last Sunday week, that Carlow Branch hosted a Red Mills qualifier at Newtownbarry House, Bunclody, where Westmeath’s Robin Carey recorded a runaway victory in the Intermediate class on the Irish Sport Pony gelding Atlantic Clover Star (21.8 penalties), a 10-year-old son of Moores Clover.

Shillelagh’s Jane Fitzgerald won the dressage phase with Broomfield Banner (17.3), but 60 cross-country penalties put an end to their bid for glory. Eight of the 19 starters were eliminated.

Cara Kelly also posted a comprehensive victory in the Intro Intermediate, as she jumped a double clear inside the time to win with the seven-year-old Majority Leader mare Blackstone Bibi (30.5). Thirteen of the 20 starters failed to complete, including the flat-phase winners, the Island’s Clodagh O’Dwyer riding the Stormhill Miller mare Coolkenno Miller (27.3).

There was a large number of eliminations in all three Junior classes, two of which were won by members of the Waterford Branch.

In Section A, Lillymai Walsh completed on her winning dressage score with the Connemara gelding Bawnabraher Buachill (23.3), a seven-year-old grey by Knockferry Cheeky Boots; while Julie McDonald also led throughout on another Connemara gelding, the well-known 18-year-old Monaghanstown Boy bay, Shanbo Hazels Boy (22.5).

Off the pace following dressage but clear in both jumping phases, two combinations, Wexford’s Deirbhile O’Dwyer (The Sixmiler) and the Island’s Jack Jones (Cojorojo) completed on their flat work mark (33 penalties) in Section B. O’Dwyer and her 20-year-old bay gelding claimed the honours, as they finished closer to the optimum time across the country.

There was a divide to the Under 12s class with Tipperary’s Lucy Meagher leading from start to finish in Section A on the 11-year-old bay gelding Cosmic Call (21.3), and Offaly’s Saoirse Carty doing likewise in Section B, where she partnered the 13-year-old grey gelding Sandy Banks (18.5).

There was a break to the eventing qualifiers last weekend because of the Defender/IPC national minimus championships, but they resume tomorrow when the Island Branch hosts a leg in the series at Frankfort Stud and the Scarteen Branch stages another at the Hillcrest Equestrian Centre.

Tomorrow week, Sunday, July 2nd Area 7 is running a qualifier at Killossery Lodge Stud, while down in Area 5 the Carbery and United Branches are hosting a leg at Ballindenisk.