GORMANSTOWN Stud’s Edie Murray-Hayden is another rider who had a busy weekend which she commenced with a win in Section B of the five to seven-year-old RDS Connemara performance hunter qualifier at Scarteen last Saturday on Carraroe Coilin.

Riding for long-term supporter Geraldine MacCann, who purchased the successful five-year-old Trá Bhá Céileóg gelding over 12 months ago from the Russells in Co Clare, Murray-Hayden claimed the first RDS ticket on offer when winning on 239.5 points ahead of Debbie Flavin and the Stepping Stones graduate, Geraldine Power’s Pine View Ice Cool (238.5)

“I really like this pony, he rides like a little horse, and I think a lot of him,” said the winning rider/producer of the bay. “He had just two cross-country schooling sessions before going to Tullylish where he improved as the round went on and, amazingly, has done so since then. I was going to let him off after two outings but next Saturday’s qualifier is so close to me (today at Orchard Lodge) that he may as well go there and then have a two-week break.

“We were lucky with the weather at Scarteen as we were having a picnic while hearing about the racing, dressage and jumping being called off. As we had to wait until the end of the class, I had a good chance to look at the other ponies and there were some very nice, athletic types among them. I have to say, Geraldine hasn’t been involved in Connemaras for long, but she has a great eye for them.”

Carraroe Coilin was bred in the Connemara Gaeltacht by Jim Coyne out of the I Love You Melody mare Caipín an Tsonais.

On Sunday, Murray-Hayden competed in the one-day event at Ballindenisk where, with four show jumping penalties, she finished ninth of 20 in an EI110 on Tamso Doyle Cox’s seven-year-old Connemara mare Kinamara Lady Destiny.

Busy season

Another rider who rode at Ballindenisk on Sunday following a win here was Ciara O’Connor who landed Section A of the five to seven-year-old class on the previously-qualified six-year-old Kippure Columbus gelding Firbolg Dun. Here, the qualifying tickets went to two seven-year-old geldings, the Grace Rooney-partnered Riverstown Robuck (by Cluainbheirn Robuck) and the Emelie Larkin-ridden Ballysooghan Danu (by Gwennic de Goariva).

Among the older ponies to gain their qualification before judges Patricia Lalor (jump) plus Una O’Donnell and Paula Geiger (flatwork and conformation) were the Eliza Jane Queally-ridden Carraun Ferdy, a 10-year-old Martan Phaidin Nhoir gelding, and the eight-year-old Innellan Phoenix gelding Newgrange Brady who earned his qualification in the hands of Emma Murray.

In Section B of that eight to 15-year-old class, the tickets went to the Eva McCraith-ridden winner Cluainin Robb, a 13-year-old Robe Johnson gelding, and the 11-year-old Weststar Sunny gelding Micky Joe who finished second under Casey McDonald.