AREA 7 of the Irish Pony Club ran its Connolly’s Red Mills eventing qualifier last Sunday at Killossery Lodge Stud where competitors in the non-qualifying Junior Starter class at the end of the day got much the worse of the weather – including a heavy hail shower.

Disappointingly for the organisers, the number of entries was down slightly on last year but those who did enter and compete were faced with good show jumping tracks and well-presented cross-country fences. Unfortunately, many in the Intermediate class failed to cope with what was a technical final-phase course so they will be in search of qualification for the championships as the series continues this weekend. In that 30-runner Intermediate class, 11 combinations managed to complete the cross-country phase without the addition of jumping penalties and the top five on the final leaderboard finished on their dressage scores.

For all the problems that arose later, the first rider out on the course, Meath’s Grace Hanna, got home clear within the time to complete on her first phase score with Clerkson (31.25). Fourth last to start, the Islands’ Lauren Spencer matched that total on Kyle Lad but, on the optimum time ruling, had to give best to the Royal County’s representative on this occasion. Hanna has competed Clerkson, a 12-year-old bay gelding by Clerkenwell, in two EI100 (J) classes this year.

The Meath Branch also came out best in the Intro-Intermediate where there were two eliminations over the coloured poles and four over the fixed fences. Here, again, the top five completed on their first phase scores with the honours going to Anna Nolan and the 21-year-old bay gelding Shady Glen (33 penalties). Fellow Meath member Kyerin Hunter was in second with Bo Dancer (33.75).

The Ward Union Branch struck in Section A of the very well-filled Junior class through Charlotte Cully and Colemantown Fred whose total of 32.3 included 0.8 of a cross-country time penalty. This 10-year-old Connemara gelding by Killyon King has a lot of Eventing Ireland experience behind him. Hazel Gleeson and the popular 18-year-old skewbald gelding Remondi Bobtail (26.25 penalties) recorded an all-the-way win to claim Section B.

This was for the Newcastle Lyons Branch whose Louise Maguire, riding Harrys Silver Boy, coped best with the challenging conditions in the Junior Starter class where their winning score of 33.75 included four show jumping penalties. Narrowly beaten into second was the only other finisher from eight starters, Meath’s Jocelyn Feane riding the unraced thoroughbred Bonnie Beag (34).

The Kildares’ Laura Butler completed on her dressage score (31 penalties) to win Section A of the Under 12s’ competition on the 20-year-old dun gelding Rumbling Titan with the 14-year-old cream gelding Cullinagh Hero being partnered to victory in Section B by Wicklow’s Isabelle Galligan.