THE fourth and final qualifier for the two mounted games competitions for Irish Pony Club members at next month’s Dublin Horse Show was held at Carnew Show last Saturday.

In the long-established senior team competition, eight squads vied for six places at the Ballsbridge showgrounds with the Tipperarys emerging victorious both on the day, having won half of the 10 races, and in the league with 36 points. The team comprises Emily Fox, Anna O’Callaghan, Alice Everard, Lily O’Reilly and Max O’Reilly.

The Meaths finished the league in second place with 34 points ahead of Laois (31), Shillelagh (29), Carlow (23) and Wexford (19). The last-named progressed to the Dublin final having beaten the Duhallows (2-1) in a three-race play-off.

For the first time this year, a pairs’ competition for riders over 16 who, because of Covid restrictions weren’t able to compete in Britain over the past two seasons, will take place at Dublin. This is scheduled for the Main Arena on the Sunday (following the Longines International Grand Prix of Ireland) when the IPC will share the ‘stage’ with the Mounted Games Association of Ireland.

Here, the Duhallows were one of three Branches to top the four-leg scoreboard on 28 points along with the Meaths and Laois. The Shillelaghs, who won at both Gorey and Stradbally, were just one point adrift in fourth with their ‘Bibs’ duo finishing fifth (20) ahead of the mixed combination of Caleb Schofield and Jill Finn who won on Saturday.

The Laois Branch won the Junior competition at Carnew where Carlow claimed the honours at Under 10 level.