GARRYHILL, Co Carlow-based Kirsty Dobie doesn’t event that often but, when she does, she is rarely out of the first two.

Over the past two seasons, Kirsty has competed at eight Eventing Ireland one-days on her Mermus R gelding (Poynstown) Cubby, winning twice, being second three times and placing third once. Strangely, when seventh and 10th on her other two starts, Dobie was riding at one of her more local events, Lisgarvan House.

Her wins were both recorded last month at Hillcrest (1) on September 1, and at Grove (2), three weeks later. The latter date was particularly significant.

“I have to fit my eventing around my three children, who are all members of Carlow Pony Club,” explained Dobie, who used to show jump ponies in England, which she left 20 years ago. She didn’t event at all until having one outing in 2017 on Cubby, who she purchased in Goresbridge to go hunter trialling with her children.

“He turned out to be a really nice horse so I decided I would try eventing him,” continued Kirsty, who is from Cheltenham but had no interest at all in racing until moving to Garryhill, where her father-in-law, Tom Donohue, is a National Hunt trainer.

“I used to have a problem turning Cubby to the left, so I started going to Sam Watson and he has helped me no end. Sam is brilliant on the flat and, what’s more, makes it all enjoyable. I help the Pony Club with their minimus, tetrathlon and eventing teams so between all that, and my husband Mark’s business, Donohue Marquees, my summer is fairly well tied up.

“Last year, my son Jude did two EI90 (P) events on his Pony Club pony Casper’s Midnight Dream, winning first time out at Lisgarvan and this year he did three EI100 (P) classes.”

“He then decided to upgrade again and, amazingly, Jude’s season, like mine, ended with a win at Grove (2). That was a very special day!”

As regards next year, Dobie may well have to wait until the second half of the season to contemplate upgrading to 1.05m and then 1.10m.

“I’d like to move up, but will just have to see how things pan out. I will say though, that in Cubby, I have the perfect ride for an amateur.”