KATE Lenihan rounded off a wonderful summer by being crowned junior league champion with Sheebas Boy and also by being a member of the Waterford Cream quartet who narrowly won the junior teams’ championship.

The only drawback to the weekend as far as 12-year-old Lenihan was concerned was the fact that she could only enter one pony,which meant she had to leave behind her second mount Tyson, on whom she finished fifth in the league on 27 points.

The Connemara Sheebas Boy, a nine-year-old gelding by Monaghanstown Pat, claimed four qualifiers and was second on his other three starts. With double points on offer for the championship, the grey and his young rider finished on 51 points, 20 clear of their nearest rivals, Wicklow’s Mily O’Loughlin and Ciarog.

Lenihan, who won the junior warm-up and competition at the IPC’s national dressage day in Spruce Lodge at the end of June, held a good lead after the first phase in Arena A where she scored 23.3. However, Sheebas Boy had a fence down show jumping which narrowed her advantage in the end over the Kildare Stars’ Isabelle Comerford and Ballycurraghan E.C. Cuba (28.3).

Trophy

Backing up Lenihan in claiming the Tommy Brennan trophy were Sadhbh Bolger on Freemount Tayto and Kym Jolly who was second in Arena D with Stonehaven Dazzler. The normally consistent Eimear Larkin and Olly Boy, who finished third in the league, were eliminated on the cross-country course. The Waterfords, who are trained by Louise Lyons, completed on a total of 94.8 while the Westmeath Red team of Sofie Walshe (Lough Fadda Horseleap Bruno), Faye O’Neill (Young Pretender), Ciara Dennigan (Altas Bun) and Meadbh Scally (Crazy Corner) finished on 94.9.

The other arena winners were the Kildare Stars’ Sophie Foyle (Prince Robin) in B, Kildare Hearts’ Jo Madden (Sally The Great) in C and Tipperary Gold’s Ruth McDonald (Mylow) in D. Conor Hurley of the South Union Branch received the Billy Julian memorial trophy for winning the junior individual class where, riding Toy Story Boy, he completed on his dressage score of 34.2. Longford’s Edel Whyte, leader of the dressage phase on 33.8, dropped to fifth when Blessington Pride incurred four show jumping faults.

The presentation of prizes was made by Irish Pony Club chairman Barbara Micks, eventing chairman Marina Brennan and Padge Gill, representing the generous sponsor, Connolly’s Red Mills.