THE fourth and final qualifier for the working hunter pony classes at next month’s Dublin Horse Show was held last Wednesday week at Killossery Lodge Stud and it would seem that, in its inaugural year, the qualifying system, which was run in conjunction with the Irish Pony Society, had achieved its aim.

“At this stage, we have separated the wheat from the chaff,” was the comment of Johnny Kyle, course builder for all four qualifiers – Sceilig (May 29th), Mullingar (June 19th), Moira (June 27th) and Killossery. “There were very few mishaps at Killossery and you’d be happy to see the vast majority of those who competed on the final day go on to compete at Dublin.”

Taking a break from riding out four or five lots for Co Meath racehorse trainer Gavin Cromwell, ahead of lining up for the Corinthian Challenge Charity Race at the Curragh next Sunday (July 21st), Joanne Quirke judged the jumping phase of all five classes, before competitors moved on to be assessed on the flat by Anne Gomes.

One young rider who has enjoyed an exciting and successful time of late is Lucy Ryan, winner of the 143cm class here, with the family-owned Connemara gelding Kilmaine Bay (118.5 points).

Locally-based Maggi Caffrey finished five points adrift in second on her new ride for this season, the 13-year-old Connemara gelding Illaunarra Bay (113.5), with Co Wicklow’s Isla Coad slotting into third with a Connemara mare, the 15-year-old Rineen Millers Melody (110.5). Kilmaine Bay, an eight-year-old dun gelding by Caherlistrane Bay, was bred in Co Galway by Mary Connolly out of the Cloughill Island mare, Baby Bird.

Lucy, who turned 12 last week, will be making her Dublin debut next month, but she has already competed in England as, just days before this qualifier, she and Kilmaine Bay were on the Ireland Gold team, that finished second in both the international and regional team competitions at the Mini Tetrathlon in Gloucestershire. The previous weekend, Ryan and three of her friends comprised the Limerick Lions quartet, who won the inter-Branch team competition at the Overlander/Irish Pony Club National Minimus Championships, where she finished sixth individually.

Back in April, Lucy had eight percentage points in hand when winning her section of the Under 12s class at the IPC’s National Dressage Day in CoilÓg, while just last Sunday she and Kilmaine Bay competed in the Under 12s’ class at the Co Limerick Branch’s Connolly’s Red Mills/IPC eventing qualifier at Ballycahane. Ryan, who is coached by Siobhan Schous, is currently bringing on two younger Connemara ponies, who she hopes to compete at IPC one-day events and then with Eventing Ireland.