THE Irish Pony Society’s trip to the BSPS championships in Grantham was well supported this year with competitors in all sections of the Plaited and M and M (Heritage) Working Hunter, Show pony, Show hunter and mini sections.

First to record a win last Wednesday was Tiggy Hancock in the Gold Cup 133cms working hunter pony section on Tim Price’s coloured mare Precious Gem II, followed closely by Sadhbh Stassin on Adrienne Daly’s 143cms home-bred mare Clonross Giselle in the Pretty Polly (home produced) section, with Eliza Hancock on her mother’s intermediate pony Porter Lady joining her in the championship having finished second in her section.

Jodie Creighton went on to win the Novice 153cms working hunter on Newmarket Alloy and, by securing the Championship, earned her ticket to the Supreme. In the Pretty Polly section, Brynoffa Jonquil, ridden by Hannah Mackey, took first in the First Ridden with Sadbh O’Connor third on Crusin Jack in the Intermediate Show Riding Type. Victoria Burns was awarded sixth in the large 143cms Show Hunter section riding Arcade Eddie, with Ellie McDonnell taking sixth in the Novice 143cms working Hunter on Sonny Bill Willaims.

Charlottte Gore claimed second in the Novice Lead Rein Hunter Type on Ardfry Rahara with Victora Burns, again on Arcade Eddie, taking third in the Novice 143cms Show Hunter. Emily Marnane was third in the Novice First Ridden on High Top Black n’Gold. Anna O’Connor took a second in the Show Hunter Lead Rein on Birtley Rainbow Quest and a fifth in the Lead Rein Show Pony on Cosford Charm Bracelet. Ellie McDonnell and Goldengrove Sunrise won the 133cms Open Show Hunter and were Reserve Show Hunter Champion on the day. The mini star of the day was Chloe Salley on Ravara Mr Tod who won Novice First Ridden and then took Overall Mini Show Pony Champion, also securing a place in the Supreme.

GOOD START

Oscar O’Connor got off to a good start with his Welsh pony Doylan Chilli Pepper, winning the Heritage Performance Cradle stakes and taking second in the Open Cradle Stakes. He also took third in the Reserve 122 SHP on Birtley Rainbow Quest and and fourth in the Challenge 122 SHP.

In a nail-biting show jumping conclusion to the Gold Cup section, both Tiggy Hancock and her sister Lucy on her 148cms event pony, Coppenagh Spring Sparrow, secured their tickets to compete at the final in Burghley this weekend. For the showing classes, the Restricted and Blue Riband saw Chloe Salley again taking a first in the Restricted First Ridden and second in the Blue Riband First Ridden on Ravara Mr Tod. A delighted Charlotte Gore won her class on Ardfry Rahara, lead by her mum Fiona.

In the hotly contested HOYS qualifiers, Jodie Creighton earned her ticket in the 153cms section on Kathryn Smiley’s Newmarket Alloy, just pipping Lucy Hancock into second slot.

In the Red Division WHP section, Tiggy Hancock and Precious Gem won her 133cms section and went on to win the championship. Ellie McDonnell was seventh in the Champion of Champions 143cms Working Hunter section on Sonny Bill Williams with Oscar O’Connor taking fifth in the 122cms Show Hunter Champion of Champions.

In the Showing sections, Brynoffa Jonquil (Hannah Mackey) took second in the Challenge First Ridden with Victoria Burns (Arcade Eddie) taking third in the Challenge 143cms Show Hunter. Emma Mackey was awarded sixth on her pony Mountpleasant Rosebud in the open 128cms show pony. In the M and M (Heritage) WHP ring, Jane Field took the Pretty Polly Reserve champion sash on her mother’s home-bred Creganna Dandini in a championship that included Tiggy Hancock on her Welsh Section A gelding Longthwaite Red Robin.

Other Irish pairings were just out of the top rosettes including Ellie Pollard on Helsington Midnight, Chloe Lacey on Woodroe All Gold, Amber Marnane on Alonby Dauphine and Leah Oakman on It’s Miller Time.

The M and M Working Hunter saw Jane Field’s Creganna Dandini standing reserve in the White Division Heritage WHP championship, which included Oscar O’Connor (Doylan Chilli Pepper). Brynoffa Jonquil (Hanna Mackey) came second in the White Division First Ridden class after a super week.

Emma Mackey was first in the White Division 128cms show pony and second in the Hoys 128cms Show Pony and was Reserve Show Pony Champion while younger brother, Eamon, took fifth place in the White Division Heritage Lead Rein on Briolen Cindy. Also in the White Division, Sadhbh O’Connor took third in the Ridden Heritage class on Ballylee Castle Prince.

For the first time since the working hunter ponies teams’ cup began in 1992, Ireland secured victory. The winning Irish team members were Lara Field on Creganna Amber (fourth Cradle Stakes), Tiggy Hancock on Precious Gem II (first and Champion 133cms), Rianna Marnane on Gold Digga IV (second 143cms), Sadhbh Stassin on Clonross Giselle and Eliza Hancock on Porter Lady (fourth Intermediates).