Punchestown
THE second of two Irish Pony Club novice one-day events was staged at Punchestown last Saturday by the Kildare Branch who had four winners on the day.
First of the quartet to strike was Alice O’Neill who, wearing the No 1 bib, narrowly landed the Novice Intermediate class ahead of the No 2 rider, Bray’s Siun Handley, although both completed on 34.75 penalties.
O’Neill led the 13-strong class after dressage but had a fence down show jumping with the Connemara gelding Castlestrange Misty Boy, a seven-year-old by Dooneen Just Joey, while Handley finished on her first phase score with the Irish Sport Horse gelding, Teachers Pet, an 11-year-old bay by the Connemara stallion, Westside Mirah.
Ben Connors had just slightly more in hand when he notched up a second win for the Kildares in Section A of the Junior class. Riding his mother Michelle Nelson’s 128cms Grade A jumper Twyford Captain Morgan, a 13-year-old Welsh gelding by Persie Renown, Connors completed on his flat work score (24.25) as the dressage winner for Warrington, Aoibhinn Ruane, picked up four show jumping penalties with Clonad Rose (24.75).
Win number three for the host Branch came in the Championship Under 12 class through the first phase winners on 26.75 penalties, Nancy Fleming and Cry Freedom. This combination were Arena winners at the IPC/Connolly’s Red Mills National Eventing Championships at Ballindenisk last month when they were on the second-placed Under 12 team.
Claiming the runner-up slot here on 29 penalties was the Newcastle Lyons pairing of Hazel Gleeson on Remondi Bobtail (29), winners of the inaugural Connollys Red Mills Under 12 eventing league.
The Kildare four-timer came up in Section B of the Under 10 class but here Sarah Smullen, had to share the honours with North Kilkenny’s Mia Perry. The pair finished the day on their joint-winning dressage score (26.54), Smullen riding the 14-year-old dun gelding Bonnetsrath Tomboy (by Gigman Orinoco), while Perry was on board the 18-year-old skewbald mare Mulvey’s Marble.
The Tipperary Branch had two winners on the day, starting with Sam Austin who recorded a comfortable all-the-way success in Section A of the Under 12s class on the well-named 15-year-old piebald gelding Conflicting Colours. Second throughout was Bray member Thea Whelehan on Easy Over Freckles (26.5).
The Tipperarys doubled up in Section A of the Under 10s class through Evie Kennedy who completed on her dressage score (22.31) with the 18-year-old gelding Casper The Ghost. Here, eventing newcomer Tadgh O’Haire, a member of the Kildares, finished second on Ballinaclea Chiff Chaff (23.46).
Win for Belton
Zoe Belton has had a successful season with Tilly B and the Meath member and her grandmother Jane’s 138cms Grade A mare claimed the Championship Junior class on their flat work mark (28.5). Riding The Silver Bullit, Ward Union’s Siobhan Doyle was second on 30 penalties.
Having travelled over from the West, the East Galways’ Katie Gibbons and Twilight Thunder (30.75) had to settle for second in Section B of the Junior competition when beaten by Kilkenny’s Aaron Doyle who too completed on his dressage score (30.5) with the 17-year-old bay gelding, Daddys Dollars.
The Wicklow Branch struck in Section B of the Under 12s class through Anna Morrissey who completed on her winning first phase score with Bob’s Your Uncle (30.5), while Elsie Barry from the neighbouring Bray Branch finished second on Ringwood Cupid (32).