THIRTEEN-year-old Charlie Curran became the latest recruit from the show jumping world to win an RDS working hunter pony qualifier, when easily topping the judges’ scores in the 133cm class at Killossery last Wednesday week on Daphne Scholts’s DellBoy II (109.5 points).

“This pony was a catch ride for Charlie,” revealed the successful rider’s father, Comdt Geoff Curran. “Daphne offered him the ride on DellBoy when her daughter was injured and he competed in his first ever working hunter class at Moira (finished eighth). I never rode in working hunter classes myself – or, if I did, I can’t remember!

“Charlie is absolutely delighted to have qualified to ride in Dublin and he is going to do some more working hunter classes before then. He has two young ponies to jump this year, but they are being brought along slowly and hopefully will compete in the six and seven-year-old qualifiers next season,” concluded Curran, who made a quick visit from McKee Barracks to Killossery last Wednesday week to watch Charlie jump.

While his son will have just the one pony to compete at Dublin, Curran senior hopes to have three horses for the international classes plus his popular Puissance mount, Bishops Quarter.

Cian O'Connor's daughter Cara O'Connor won the RDS starter stakes working hunter qualifier at Killossery riding Rathcoole Rupert \ Sagittarian Photography

For the second qualifier in a row, the starter stakes was won by seven-year-old Cara O’Connor, but this time on Rathcoole Rupert (102), while she finished sixth on her successful Moira ride, In It To Win It (96).

Bred in Co Cork by John Healy and registered with the Welsh Pony and Cob Society, Rathcoole Rupert is a 10-year-old gelding by Rowquest Blaze Over Westernriver. Having started his career with the Murphy family of Cullintra Stud in Co Wexford, the dun is campaigned under Showjumping Ireland rules these days by O’Connor’s brother Ben.

Emily Flavin-Redmond finished second with the six-year-old Connemara gelding Ballyerk Floss (101.5), while Charlotte Crowley placed third on the 15-year-old Grade A mare Tobergregan Brownie (99). Riding the four-year-old mare Shine Bright Like A Diamond, Co Cork’s Finn Russell finished fourth (97), just ahead of local rider Jamie Greene and his Mullingar winner Horse And Jockey Clasper (96.5).