THE Irish contingent competing at last week’s British Show Pony Society summer championships at Grantham recorded a large number of victories, especially in the hunter pony division.

Unfortunately, there isn’t room here to mention all the Irish class winners over the four days so we will concentrate on those who won titles or reserve awards and where better to start than with the very much in-form Lara Field and Glandrine Pied Piper.

Following on from their excellent performances at Cavan, the 10-year-old rider from Oranmore in Co Galway and her mother Marjorie Hardiman’s 12-year-old bay gelding never touched a pole all week at the Arena UK grounds where they were crowned mini working hunter pony supreme champions. Hardiman purchased the Knockseagh Prince gelding locally but he was first produced in Co Cork by William and Aidan Williamson having been bred in the Rebel county by Jimmy O’Regan out of Drinagh Molissa.

Field and Glandrine Pied Piper were on the successful Area (inter countries) team along with Carla Williamson (Springdale Superstar), Jasper Kelly (Tinnecarrig Milo), James Ryan (Loughwell Bobby) and Rianna Marnane (Danny’s Pride). All were bedecked in sashes galore!

Sharing the ride on their mother Melanie’s nine-year-old Connemara gelding Danny’s Pride, a grey by Fernville Danny, Amber Marnane won both the Heritage White Division working hunter pony championship and the Heritage Pretty Polly working hunter title.

Jasper Kelly and his mother Lucy’s seven-year-old dun gelding Tinnecarrig Milo finished reserve in the challenge working hunter pony championship.

James Ryan guided his mother Mairead’s Connemara Loughwell Bobby, a 12-year-old by Currachmore Cashel into the reserve slot in the White Division working hunter pony championship while twin brother Ivan filled the same position in the Heritage ridden championship on the 10-year-old Connemara gelding, Reilly (by Curraghakeen Cashel).

SIBLING SUCCESS

The Williamson siblings had another fantastic show on their father Norman’s Plasdavrene Matty’s Mate, Carla taking the open nursery stakes championship on the chestnut while Josh partnered the 16-year-old Felinmor Playmate gelding to claim the HOYS working hunter title.

Tiggy Hancock also enjoyed great success at Grantham culminating in the young Co Carlow rider winning the restricted working hunter pony championship on her mother Jane’s nine-year-old grey gelding Corries Jack In A Box, on whom she also qualified for tomorrow’s Gold Cup at Burghley. The Hancocks were delighted when Rockyview Brightspark stood reserve in the open nursery championship.

Sadhbh O’Connor also filled the reserve slot in the Premier League white division show hunter pony championship on her mother Aoife’s seven-year-old mare Carr Side Kate.

Paula McCarthy’s Singing Sandy, who is by an unregistered coloured stallion out of a Connemara, was produced in Killyleagh and ridden by Lucy Byrne until June when sent over to Hayley Hankey. The latter’s eight-year-old daughter Tilly partnered the roan gelding at Grantham where, on the rider’s second start in a working hunter class, they won the restricted mini working hunter championship. Tilly’s uncle Hayden Hankey judged the ridden hunter horses at Dublin last month and, last weekend, he competed at the Millstreet international horse trials.

The BSPS open mini show pony championship was won by Chloe Salley riding her grandmother Margaret Miller’s Ravara Mr Tod, a seven-year-old gelding by Romany River Peter Rabbitt.