IT was another victory for Johnny O’Connell as his Children on Horses team took victory in the team challenge for the second year in-a-row at the Dublin Horse Show.

The team of Jemima Heffron (Quinten), Aoife Drea (Sandballin), Seamus Hennessy (Ballynoe Carnival Girl) and Isobel Hughes Kennedy (ESI Carvalho) finished on a total score of four faults.

In the first round, both Drea and Hughes delivered clears and in the second round, clears were delivered by three of the four riders.

Delighted with the result, O’Connell said: “It was a great team to work with and really the training that the receive from their own trainers makes my job easier. It is evident that there is a lot of groundwork put in before they get to the RDS. The standard in this division has improved over the years and Ireland has some very good riders and horses coming up the ranks.

“All the riders did very well and they all kept their cool under the pressure. In particular Isobel Hughes Kennedy, did not crumble under the pressure as she delivered that all important final clear round. I was also pleased for her trainer Dennis Flannelly, who was there to see the round as he was the manager of another team,” he added.

Taking the runner-up spot, when finishing on eight faults, was Tommy Gibson’s team of Niamh McEvoy (Charlon Chloe), Cormac Quirke (Boomerang Breeze), Lucy Morton (Delton) and Sarah Fitzgerald (Master Holiday). The quartet finished on a first-round score of eight faults.

Jack Doyle’s team of Robin Carey (CTS Peanuts), Jack Geaney (Doon Alright), Emma O’ Connor (Coolrua) and Jess Widger (Grantstown Charmer) finished on a total score of 12 for third place.

The Dennis Flannelly team was at a disadvantage from the off as their team consisted of just three riders. The team of Finn O’Hara (Quontum), Daniel Moore (Scooby Bee) and Orlaith Ryan (Lates Sparkey) finished on a team total of 22 for eventual fourth.

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP

On Sunday, victory in the individual championship belonged to Niamh McEvoy and Charlton Chloe. All the way from Co Tyrone, it was a busy week for Niamh as she was also in action in the 148cm pony class with Fireman, were she took the wins in both qualifiers.

Ecstatic after a great week, Maeve McEvoy said: “We are just so proud of Niamh and what she achieved here today. She is such a good horsewoman and she spends so much time producing her animals.

“The mare is a wonderful horse and is very kind and honest with the children. I would go as far as saying I would put any child on her. She is familiar with the RDS having competed here with Niamh’s cousin Ellen Thompson. We will most likely sell her as we need to be on the lookout for a young rider horse.”

Bred by Peter Mulrine in Donegal and now owned by Maeve McEvoy, Charlton Chloe is an 11-year-old by HSS Br Charlton and out of the Clover Hill dam, Admiran Clio. She is a full-sister to Charlton Clio who was also in action in the young riders division, with Jonathan Smyth.

Sixteen went to post in the competitive class and from those just four delivered double clears. First to go in the six way jump-off, McEvoy lodged the winning time of 33.26 seconds. No stranger to the RDS, Sandballin also answered all the questions for his jockey Aoife Drea and crossed the line in 34.57 for second. Sandballin was in action at the Young Rider Championships in Mullingar with Jack Ryan the week before.

The 20 year-old gelding, who is by Ballinvella and out of the Cloverhill dam Pallas Clover, has been a loyal servant to both Jack and Marguerite Ryan with a host of wins over the years.

Second last to go against the clock, Isobel Hughes Kennedy’s cool approach was evident again as she delivered a clear with ESI Carvalho in 37.65 for third.

Seamus Hennessy and Ballynoe Carnival Girl put in a gallant attempt and a clear in 38.60 saw them take fourth. Sarah Fitzgerald and Master Holiday had two on the floor in 33.03 for fifth, ahead of Finn O’Hara and Quontum who opted to retire in the jump-off.