A winner and placed twice this year in three Eventing Ireland novice classes, Rebecca Hayes and The Artful Bobster commenced their Irish Pony Club season in style when landing the open class at the Connolly’s Red Mills qualifier in Crecora last Sunday.

Hosted by the Co Limerick branch at the Ballycahane farm of the Furnell family, the event was deemed “very successful” by organiser Catherine Noonan who added: “We had a couple of showers but nothing major. The vet never had to be called and the doctor on duty had no serious fallers to attend to. There was a fabulous turn-out and we had lots of help.”

Representing Scarteen, Hayes and The Artful Bobster, an 11-year-old bay gelding, were the only combination to record a double clear in the jumping phases, completing on their dressage score of 28.4. Hannah Phillips’s total of 34.2 with Hazel Rock Sun, which saw them finish second for Galway Mid County, included one show jumping time penalty.

Patricia Hayes of the Golden Vale led the seven-runner class after the first phase on 24.4 but, following 16 show jumping penalties, retired on the final leg with Clear Rock.

There were only five clear show jumping rounds in section A of the intermediate, one of these being recorded by the winning pairing of the host club’s Aoife Goodwin Boers and Sherwater, a six-year-old Jack Of Diamonds (SWE) gelding with whom the rider competes in EI Junior C classes.

They finished the day on their flatwork mark of 27.2 as the early leaders, Scarteen’s Julie Crowe and Izar De S’arcaite, had problems on both jumping phases.

In spite of lowering one of the coloured poles, Tipperary’s Lucy O’Donnell landed section B having easily won the dressage phase on 22.8 with the 14-year-old roan gelding Highbury Lad.

The optimum time ruling was brought into play to decide the winner of the novice intermediate class as two Clare members, Alice Mahony and the six-year-old Mr Clover gelding King Kaza Clover and Aisha Catto riding Ballyinglen Susies Master completed on their dressage scores of 26.8.

On his home farm, Tristan Furnell led after the first phase on Caqui d’Or (19.6) but picked up four show jumping penalties before having a stop on the cross-country course.

The Limericks filled the first three placings in section A of the juniors, headed by Roisin Reynolds and the five-year-old grey pony Bulgaden Johnny, while, in section B, the honours went to the Duhallow’s Ruth O’Connor who recorded an all-the-way success with the 16-year-old Dont Look Down.

In section C, Waterford’s Eimear Larkin and the 19-year-old Ollie Boy were lying second after dressage (25.4) but, without further penalties, won the class when Limerick’s William Cahill and Condor had a show jump down to complete on 26.5.

Sharing the lead after dressage, Scarteen’s Rhys Costello remained on 27.5 to win section A of the under-12 class with Shakie Stephens as his early rival, Waterford’s Aoife O’Brien, picked up 20 jumping penalties across the country on What A Cookie.

Disappointingly, O’Brien’s clubmate Aoife Keena had even more problems over the fixed fences in section B and, having won the first phase on 27.5 with Rowan Hill Shadow, dropped out of the reckoning.

Only too willing to fill the gap at the top of the leaderboard was the Golden Vale’s Harry Swan who, in spite of a show jump down with the 19-year-old Chockie, won by an impressive eight points on 32.5.

The IPC eventing action continues at Stradbally Hall and Kilguilkey House tomorrow and at Sleedagh Farm on Wednesday. Don’t forget the Red Mills selfie competition.