ONLY two teams lined out for Sunday’s international Connemara performance hunter challenge with Ireland regaining the title from Britain, who bounced back from this defeat to win at Clifden within days.

Three of Ireland’s ponies jumped clear rounds – Shanbos Hazels Boy (Gillian Bond), Gurteen King (Pataire Crawford) and Agharanny Minstrel (Edwina O’Connor) – while two of the British squad, Derrygimbla Boy (Anna Layfield) and Laburnum Richard (Amy Smith), also came home with their full 160 points.

When the scores of the jumping judge, Jason Webb, and those of the conformation judge, Jane Steward, were brought into the mix, Ireland won on a total of 801 points with Great Britain on 793.

The other Irish team member was Eimear Murphy riding Dandini, with the British contingent also featuring Lydia Stuart on Hazelrock Rebellion and Myles Lindsay-Brown whose mount, the 10-year-old Currachmore Cashel stallion Josie Jump, won the young Connemara performance class here three times (2012-2104) when ridden by Jason Higgins for J.J. Bowe.

Lt Col Brian MacSweeney, who was once again chef d’equipe for the Irish squad, commented: “I think this is a great competition as it gives riders, who would never have the chance otherwise, the opportunity to represent their country. It would be great if there could be more teams, perhaps something like a home international, as it’s a super way of showcasing this native breed.”