THE Louth and Oriel Branches of the Irish Pony Club once again combined to run the season’s first Connolly’s Red Mills one-day event qualifier in Area 7 at Dromiskin on Sunday.

Although the entry was down on last year, understandably so given that a qualifier was also being held in Bunclody, the event went extremely well and, on a warm day, competitors were delighted to support the ice cream van which set up on site.

Former Louth member Mairead Holden was chief steward for the dressage phase, which ran like clockwork, while the Seamus Casey-built show jumping tracks had a big effect on the results, particularly in the Intermediate class.

There was little change to the Tony McManmon-designed cross-country course, which was spruced up in advanced by parents, but the main water rode much better than previously. Thanks to the presence of four stewards, the adjacent crossing was well policed.

The Ward Union Branch won three classes starting in the intermediate, where Hope O’Dwyer recorded an all-the-way success despite adding four show jumping penalties to her winning dressage score of 26.4. She was on board Kyle Lad, a 10-year-old skewbald gelding who her mother Claire used to partner in riding club competitions.

Completing on her flatwork score of 32.4 to place second was Monaghan’s Natalie Kingham riding Ardkirk Cocco, an eight-year-old bay mare by Metropole.

A pole down show jumping proved costly for the Meath combination of Niamh Farrell and Crossinstown Clover as they finished the day on 33.2, sharing third place with Carlow’s Andre Cooper and Mister Chance who remained on their first phase score throughout.

The Wards also claimed the novice intermediate class through Alia McGurrin who completed on her winning dressage score of 29.6 penalties on Clonmethans Jazz.

The Louths’ Klaudia Szarzankiewicz, riding Candlefort Belle, also finished on her flat work mark but was some way adrift on 36.

The Monaghan Branch won section A of the junior division when Lucinda Kingham completed on her dressage score of 28.8 with Cheeky Playboy. Kildare’s Peter Dillon (Domestic Incident) and Cavan’s Michaela Donnelly (Monmurry Serendipity) shared second place on 29.2.

At the top of the leaderboard following dressage, Cavan’s Clare Hawthorne and Lough Conn Laura (25.4) and Meath’s Holly Love on Dryffe Wandering Minstrel (27.5) had problems in jumping.

The latter finished fourth with eight show jumping penalties while Hawthorne, who lowered three poles, dropped right out of contention with 60 cross-country penalties.

Dillon, one of few Kildare members at Dromiskin, went on to record an all-the-way success in section B with Belle, completing on his flatwork score of 27.5 penalties. Second throughout on 28.3 was the Wicklow pairing of Jennifer Robinson on My Jasper.

Meath’s Cathal Mitchell and Bishopshall Joey were left in sole possession of third place on 29.6 when Emily Nolan and Ballymurray Max of Newcastle Lyons were disappointingly eliminated in the show jumping ring as were two other combinations in this section.

In the under-12 section, Katelyn McMahon finished off the one-day action in style for the Ward Union branch when completing on her winning dressage score of 32.25 penalties with the Connemara mare Tawin Rush.

The Meaths’ Elsa Mullen riding Reenroe Merrymint was McMahon’s nearest challenger after the first phase (34.25).

However, she dropped out of contention on the final leg leaving her clubmates, Ella Kilfeather (Castleview Sandy) and Matthew Love (Brookhall Ana Marie), to finish second and third on 37.2 and 39.5 respectively.

Every competitor in the under-12 combined training class received a prize but the narrow winner on 41 penalties was Westmeath member Jodie O’Leary riding Harmony Prince. The Louths’ Lucy Bell came second on 42 with Reenes Boy.

Tomorrow, a qualifier takes place at Killossery Lodge Stud, a new venue for Irish Pony Club members.

This is being organised by Area 7 which is also holding its popular qualifier at Tattersalls, venue for the August championships, on Sunday next, July 5th.