TWO Connolly’s Red Mills eventing qualifiers were held last Sunday, one at Killossery Lodge Stud and the other at Kilguilkey House where an international event had been staged the previous weekend.

Organised by Area 5 of the Irish Pony Club, the southern qualifier was dominated by members of the Co Limerick branch, who won three classes including the open, where Caoimhe Murphy completed on her winning dressage score of 32.40 with the family’s 10-year-old chesnut gelding Tiktok Copper.

The branch’s Esther Cahill riding Zebo shared the lead on 31.40 penalties after dressage in the novice intermediate with Waterford’s Clodagh O’Sullivan on Bonmahon Highlight. However, while Cahill recorded the only show jumping clear in the nine-runner class and went on to complete on her flatwork mark, O’Sullivan was eliminated over the coloured poles.

The Co Limerick hat trick was brought up in the under-12 section by Luke Cahill who too finished the day on his first phase score of 28 with Condor, one penalty point ahead of the Duhallows’ Anna Cronin on Coolakokero Ollie. West Waterford’s Anna Brenner held a marginal advantage after dressage with Bayview J’Aime Bella (27.30) but was eliminated on the final leg.

Brenner’s older clubmate Jennifer Hennessy made it two-for-two for the season when following up her Farrangalway win in the Intermediate class where there were 27 starters.

Again on board the 17-year-old Duky gelding Millford Sound, she completed on her winning dressage score of 24.80 with Alice Mahony, representing the Co Clare branch, next best on 27 penalties with King Kaza Clover.

In the 37-runner Junior class, the honours went to Waterford’s Sadhbh Bolger who completed on her dressage score of 22.30. She rode Prince Dukey Diamond, a five-year-old bay gelding by the Irish Draught Diamond Jackie out of a Duky mare.

FOUR-TIMER

A point behind in second came Duhallow’s Hannah O’Flaherty with Crininish Mist. The Limericks looked like bringing up a four-timer when Eva Fitzgibbon led after dressage on Milo (21.50) but they had a pole down show jumping and picked up 20 jumping penalties across the country.

Last Sunday, Area 7 staged a first qualifier at Killossery Lodge Stud where the Glynn family could not have been more welcoming with well-presented fences, a track that included two waters and a dedicated under-12 course.

The qualifier attracted an entry of nearly 200 but the last rider came through the finish before 5.30pm which allowed people head home early.

The honours were widely spread over nine classes with only the Carlow branch recording a double. They got off the mark in section A of the juniors through Alannah Walsh who completed on her first phase score of 32.1 with OTT. Kildare’s Isabelle Comerford led after dressage with Ballycurraghan EC Cuba (25.8) but picked up 7.6 cross-country time penalties to drop to second.

The Carlow double was brought up in the under-12 class by Sophie Walsh who finished the day on her very impressive dressage score of 19 penalties with the 17-year-old dun mare CEC Que To Call, a former Grade B show jumper.

In spite of a pole down show jumping, Section B of the Juniors was won comfortably by Waterford’s Niamh Hayden and Freddie who, on a total of 23.2 penalties, had a nine-point margin over their nearest rivals. Wicklow’s Mily O’Loughlin and Ciarog recorded an all-the-way success in Section C to finish the day on their first phase score of 29.2

TIME PENALTIES

Among those who had competed at the IPC’s national dressage day on Saturday was the Ward Union’s Jennifer Byrne who claimed the open class at Killossery. This in spite of adding 12 show jumping and 1.2 cross-country time penalties to her winning flatwork mark of 29.2 with the 10-year-old Garrison Royal gelding Ballingowan BJ.

Kilkenny’s Mary Mahon and the 15-year-old Maltstriker gelding Markive followed up their victory at Bunclody by landing section B of the intermediate on their winning dressage score of 27.2.

Third behind Mahon at the Carlow qualifier, Cian Springate won section A with the seven-year-old Dario gelding Mullybrannon Diamond, his completion score of 34.4 penalties including 1.2 for time across the country.

Clubmate Julie Zieg led after dressage with Silver Lea (32) but picked up an additional 12 penalties in the jumping ring before being eliminated on the final leg.

There was an impressive entry of 17 for the novice intermediate class and an equally impressive winner in Westmeath’s Sofie Walsh who completed on her dressage score of 23.2 with Kinsau, over a dozen penalty points clear of their nearest rivals.

The under-12 combined training class was won by Sophie Orr and Lookout Sprite of the Island branch.