COMBINATIONS had to qualify for the two North Down Marquees Connemara working hunter classes at last week’s Balmoral Show where, when it came to the championship on the Thursday, the older riders held off their younger rivals.

Ponies partnered by those aged 10 to 16 were first to come before judges Marie Claire Nimmo and Barbara McGrath and here Co Wicklow’s Maya Von Moll and Lucy Osborne’s Tousist King improved a place from last May to win on a total of 91 points. The eight-year-old Plume De Kezeg gelding was bred in Co Kerry by John O’Sullivan out of Princess Menlo (by Coolillaun Cushlawn).

Also up from the Garden County, Tristan Kelly finished second on 90 points with his new ride for this season, his mother Lucy’s Garvagh Moonlight Boy, an eight-year-old grey gelding by Monaghanstown Boy.

The more locally-based duo of owner Carol Murdoch and rider Jackson Laing repelled the raiders in the class for those aged over 16 when the eight-year-old grey gelding Doon Da Vinci (Newgrange Lad – Doon Maggie Ann, by Parkmore Bobby) was awarded the winning score of 94 points and then went on to be crowned champion.

Katie Annett finished second with her mother Gayle’s Illane Duke (91) and then stood reserve with the Ardgaineen Rebel gelding as she did in Saturday’s working hunter championship.

Laing and Doon Da Vinci recorded two EI90 wins last season and while they have had to settle for placings on their two outings this term, those runs have come in very large classes. In winning this championship, Laing was presented with the Northern Ireland Connemara Pony Association trophy.