THE Bank Holiday weekend proved a busy one for members of the Irish Pony Club as, in addition to the Tetrathlon championships, three IPC/Connolly’s Red Mills eventing qualifiers took place, two on Saturday and one on Monday.

The Island Branch moved its qualifier this year to Rosanna House, Ashford which has hosted Eventing Ireland one-days in recent seasons. Just one team, Westmeath, lined out for Saturday’s Open competition which was a qualifier for the British Pony Club championships at Cholmondeley Castle but, while three members completed, the team will not be travelling to England, preferring instead to contest the national Intermediate championships at Ballindenisk next weekend.

In the individual Open competition there was a close result between two Westmeath members riding ex-racehorses.

Sofie Walshe led after dressage with her new ride for this season, Herobrine (27.80), but the six-year-old Black Sam Bellamy gelding picked up eight show jumping penalties as the Rebecca Joyce-ridden Heisacoolhand completed on his dressage score (35.50). At last month’s Tattersalls July Show, the 13-year-old won the Irish Horse Welfare Trust working hunter series final under his owner, and former trainer, Dot Love.

There was a close finish too in the 24-runner Intermediate where, completing on their dressage scores, the Meaths’ Iona Pollock and her 13-year-old chesnut gelding Killinick Dazzler (24) claimed first place ahead of Anna Byrne and Fairyhouse Coco (24.80) who represented the Ward Union.The Meath Branch doubled up when Lucie Glynn won Section C of the Junior class with the Connemara gelding Bramblebrough Eoghan, a 10-year-old by Kingstown Cavalier. Section A went the way of Bray member Clodie Coen riding the 10-year-old Master Imp gelding Ballinglen Susies Master while Caelainn Foley of Kildare topped the leaderboard in Section B with Carramore Master, a seven-year-old by Rathcoona Cove.

Despite lowering one show jumping, an excellent season for the hosts’ Ava Dowley continued on Saturday when she won Section A of the Under 12s’ qualifying competition with the nine-year-old dun mare Magical Milly. Roisin Cowley of Newcastle Lyons landed Section B with the Connemara gelding Shanbo John, a seven-year-old by Illaunurra Cathal, while the non-qualifier was won by Edie Codd of the Killinick Branch on Little Dolly.