PONY riders made a welcome return to the RDS as they were the first division to contest the Horse Sport Ireland-sponsored Championships in the main arena last Friday morning. Although it was a different type of RDS, the stands were full of family support for the young hopefuls.

In a change of format, the 148cm six/seven-year-old ponies were the first to take it on. In total, 24 combinations lined out to take on the Alan Wade-designed course and from those, three six-year-olds and three seven-year-olds booked their places against the clock.

In the first round, the Children of Lir swan oxer and the combination caught a few out, but in the second round, faults were racked up throughout the course with just two delivering double clears. First to go against the clock, Anna White and the Fergal White-owned Tankardstown Dreamer (6yo) proved out of luck when they faulted at the RDS oxer and crossed the line in 37.07 for eventual fifth place. Next up, Coen Williams had to settle for sixth place when he faulted twice with Sheila Aylward’s Coppenagh Gatsby in 37.48.

Camryn Clarke took the lead when he put in a foot perfect round aboard On My (6yo) in 38.32. First to go in the seven-year-old division, Sadhbh Cuffe looked up on target with Dunard Cavalexa but four faults cost her dearly as the last fell to the floor and she crossed the line in 36.01 for eventual fourth.

Next to take up the gauntlet, Kate Lynch knew what she needed to do with CQS Quality Cagney. Setting off strong, she kept it tight and cheered on by spectators, a daring gallop to the last saw her post the winning time of 37.24 and demote Camryn Clarke and Oh My into the runner-up spot.

Last to go, Matthew Farrell and Maifield Another Sunrise proved out of luck when he faulted at the double and a time of 35.61 saw him finish as the fastest four-faulter for third place.

Speaking afterwards, Kate’s father Noel said: “We are absolutely thrilled. I told her not to hang around, but to enjoy herself. She has produced the pony from the word go and she works extremely hard with all her animals. The pony really knows its job had jumped very well in the Championships in the run up to the show.”

Kate has plenty of experience at the RDS with her siblings. Her brother Brendan finished fifth in the same championship in 2018 with Kilclogher Klassy Lady.

Win for Hughes Bravo

After a short interval, the 148cm division was next up to contest their championship. Again the standard was high with nine of the 28 proceeding to the timed round. Spectators didn’t have to wait long for the first clear as first to go, Kian Dore and Sparkling Lackaghmore Joey (8yo) answered all the questions. The combination proved out of luck in the second round as he faulted at the first part of the double and at the last to finish just outside the top six.

Next to go, Chloe Hughes Kennedy set off in a determined pace with Jean Finney’s Still Got Me, but a slip on the approach to fence three, resulted in four faults and her time of 32.10 would prove good enough for eventual fourth.

Reserve 148cm Champion at the SJI Championships, Sarah Fitzgerald was up for the challenge as she took to the course with Moore’s Pride and delivered the first double clear in 37.80. James Brennan got a very tight turn back to fence three aboard the eight year-old MHS Glow, but four faults at the last in a time of 34.78 saw him slot into fifth place.

Kilkenny’s Emily Moloney put in a gallant attempt with Castlehill Titan and a tight line from the double to the Celtic Cross fence saw her almost catch the leader as she stopped the clock in 37.94. James Derwin didn’t hang about with Rincoola Babog, but an unlucky four faults in 37.38 would later see him slot into sixth place.

No stranger to this pressure, Martha Hughes Bravo entered the ring in a determined fashion with HHS Mustang Sally. Like those before her, she got a good turnback to fence three and then on to the Celtic Cross fence. It was the turn back to the penultimate fence that saw her pick up the pace and clock the winning time of 36.08 and in the process push Fitzgerald into second and Moloney into third.

Speaking after the class, Martha thanked her parents Marion and Miguel for their help and also Mikey Pender who helps with her training. “Mum had told me not to go crazy but to go for it. Thankfully it worked out,” she said.

Fleming clinches victory

In the 138cm Championship, 24 combinations went to post and with the course asking a few difficult questions, just five maintained clean sheets first time out to book their place against the clock. The first combination to keep the poles in place was Senan Reape and Small Titan.

This combination returned for the second round and once again answered all the questions in a time of 35.95 to put it up to the rest.

Second to go, Iseult Fleming set off strong with Coppenagh Celtic Rebel and a very tight turn back to fence 14 saw her up on pace. This, matched with a daring gallop to the last, saw them lodge the winning time of 35.53.

Conor Sweeney didn’t hang about with Sakama Chezni and despite a series of tight turns and a good pace, a clear in 39.32 saw him take fourth place

Lauren Adams put in a gallant attempt with Riot Del Pegulil, but despite taking the inside line to the double, she clocked 35.62, which saw her finish just ahead of Reape (Small Titan) in second place.

Last to go, James Derwin saw his hopes of a win dashed early as he faulted at the first and later in the course with Ruby Brown in a time of 46.05 for fifth place. Fastest of the four-faulters in the first round and taking sixth place was Charlotte McCracken and Drumcaughey Diamond.

Iseult’s father Andrew said: “Coppenagh Celtic Rebel is such a great pony. He has been here with five different children and always did them proud. The course was a bit tricky but it was nothing to him. I am delighted for Iseult as she works very hard and it’s a well-deserved win.”

Top title for Foley

There was no shortage of support for the 128cm riders who lined out for their championship on Friday evening. Of the 28 combinations, 10 booked their place against the clock. Keeping with family tradition of taking home red rosettes from the RDS, Ruben Foley took the crown with The Silver Legend.

Ruben said afterwards: “It was very exciting to be competing in the RDS. It was my first time competing in the RDS, but my brother Jason while in ponies won the 138cm championship and my other brother Max won the 148cm championship. The plan in the jump-off was to leave nothing behind. I was helped by my brother Jason and Ger O’Neill.”

Ruben will finish the season with The Silver Legend before passing the pony on to his brother Harvey.

Helen Walsh and Knockash Lady Bird was first to go, but four faults saw her out of the top six. The first double clear was delivered by Zara Sharkey and Lisboy Black Magic in a time of 40.82 for eventual fourth. Next up, National Pony Champion Ruben Foley meant business as he took it on with the very experienced The Silver Legend. A series of tight turns saw him clock the winning time of 32.04.

Juliette McIntosh also kept it tight aboard Jerry Sweetnam’s Hollycreek Oran Splendour, but her time of 35.21, would see take second. Charlie Flynn may have lost time due to Penchwintan’s big jump over the planks and double, crossing the line in 35.95 for third. Pippa Carroll and the Nut Cracker had one on the ground in 38.70 for fifth. Cian McMunn proved out of luck when Mickybo took a dislike to fence 14, but their time of 40.32 saw them take sixth.