Judith Faherty

CARN Verdon Boy was the highest-placed Connemara pony at the Dressage Ireland National Winter Finals at Cavan Equestrian Centre last weekend.

The eight-year-old gelding, owned by Deirdre and Joan Geoghegan from Oughterard in Co Galway, has quickly progressed through the ranks, only beginning dressage training last December and was first registered with Dressage Ireland in January 2016.

Ridden by Alana Cazabon Sullivan, who has competed at two pony European Dressage Championships, Carn Verdon Boy won the novice category 2 championship before going on to be the reserve champion in the elementary category 2.

He has now qualified for the Hickstead Premier League Dressage Masters Championships in June.

Judy Cazabon and Enda Keane’s Kinvara Tan, ridden by Sille Van Der Wijk, won the preliminary championship to round off a good campaign for the Connemara contingent from Co Galway.