By Margie McLoone
THERE was plenty of action for working hunter pony enthusiasts in Ring 2 on Saturday and plenty of action also for the arena party as clear rounds over the Kevin Millman-designed course were very much a rarity.
Judges Nicola Turner and Robert Goldie found their champion in the 158cms class where the Sadhbh Springate-ridden six-year-old Mullybrannon Diamond completed on a total of 90.5 points, which included 10 out of 10 for manners.
“I only entered at the last minute as I thought it might be too early in their partnership,” said the rider’s mother Máire Springate, owner of the Dario gelding. “However, Sadhbh was adamant that she wanted to do it and it worked out really well. They also took part in the intermediate combined training, finishing fourth on their dressage score.
“Mullybrannon Diamond is a real sweetheart and was beautifully produced by Stuart Whittle and his daughters Amy and Hannah. Sadhbh (17), who is trained by Julieann Gaffney, is taking him to Bunclody for the Pony Club event there on Sunday and then on to the championships at Tattersalls.”
The champion was bred in Co Mayo by Janet Hinchion out of the White Clover mare Duchess Of Diamond.
Donaghadee’s Ciara Gilroy (15), who made her Dublin debut last week, won Section A of the 143cms class before being placed reserve on her mother Anne’s Hill Storm. The pair had been fourth in Wednesday’s older Connemara performance hunter championship.
Sadly Ciara is outgrowing Hill Storm, who she has ridden for the past four years, mainly in working hunter competitions. This season the Co Down combination started competing in Eventing Ireland one-days, winning the last of three Pony C events (having been placed second twice) and the last of three CNCP1* classes (again having been placed second twice).
Hill Storm, who is by Lochinvar and was bred in Crossgar by Wendy Findlay out of the Derrigragh Robin mare Holiday Moonlight, is now on the market. Once the nine-year-old is sold, Anne Gilroy will be on the lookout for a suitable horse for Ciara, who is trained by Vicky Teuton.
The second division of the 143cms class was won by Ava McIntyre riding John Banahan’s 19-year-old grey gelding Ballingreine Boy. The 153cms class was also divided with Ballynahinch’s Rachel Moore landing the second half on her mother Shirley’s smashing eight-year-old gelding Fortview Toyboy.
The great stallion Cruising made a guest appearance in the Main Arena on Sunday and his influence was noted throughout nearly every section of the show. Division one of the 153cms class was won by his 12-year-old daughter Rathbawn Sushi who owner Isobel Reynolds bred out of her Ashfield Bobby Sparrow mare Silver Grey Sparrow, winner of the same class many years ago.
Rathbawn Sushi was ridden by Susie Osborne who also won the 148cms six and seven-year-old show jumping championship on the Connemara Lisrua Heidi who is owned by her mother, and trainer, Valerie Osborne.
Tuam-based Claire Crawford bred the both the 133cms winner, the wonderful Ardfry Sarabi, who was ridden by her Paul Duffy-trained daughter Pataire, and Anne Torrens’s starter stakes winner Ardfry Baileys (Jennifer Torrens). The latter, who is by Rolston Riverdance, is out of Ardfry Rivendell whose sire, Ardfry Cedar is also sire of Ardfry Sarabi.