IN common with so many other sporting fixtures last Sunday, the Irish Pony Society’s annual hunter pony show in Barnadown enjoyed a fine end to the day but those judges, stewards, competitors and supporters who were in action early had to endure some appalling weather.

In Ring 1, Joanne Quirke was well-booted and suited to judge the morning’s performance hunter classes for the Tiggy Hancock memorial trophy. Jumping commenced at 50cm level, going up in 10cm increments to the 90cm class where Quirke found her section champion and reserve.

Topping the class and championship line-ups was Charlotte Goor on her mother Fiona’s Irish Sport Horse mare Ardville Whispering Hope with fellow Co Wicklow rider Tristan Kelly standing reserve on Maria Tyrrell’s Connemara gelding Fiona’s Fionn, a 17-year-old grey by Monaghanstown Fionn.

A nine-year-old by the ISH stallion Kah Clintender, Ardville Whispering Hope was bred in Co Fermanagh by Ernest Somerville out of the VDL Arkansas mare Ardville Killycairn. Goor and the bay finished fourth in the 153cm junior equitation class at last month’s Dublin Horse Show to the section champions, Ellie Rogan and Tullaree Fear Buí.

“We bought ‘Wispa’ shortly after she was broken as a five-year-old,” revealed Fiona Goor. “We’ve taken it really slowly with her but she’s an absolute superstar. Last year she jumped as a novice working hunter but was also fantastic on the flat placing in Dublin in the small riding horse class and the intermediate side saddle. This year, she’s mainly run as a working hunter and has qualified for the Horse of the Year Show in the Intermediates.

“Charlotte is 15 and has just gone into TY with plans for travel to America and Spain plus lots of work with her horses. She also wants to bring on a few youngsters. Winning the Tiggy’s Trust Memorial Trophy was really special as Tiggy was such an inspiration for Charlotte and countless other children. Jane (Tiggy’s mother) and Tiggy were kind enough to help us on our first trip to the UK with the ponies. We went in convoy and stopped just off the ferry to graze the ponies on a beach. Tiggy and Charlotte collected stones while the ponies ate and one of those stones we keep on the window sill in our kitchen.”

As Jane Hancock was attending the Cornbury international horse trials in England, Joanne Quirke presented the silver cup to Charlotte. Her day as a judge was not yet done however as she also assessed those forward in phase one of the TRM-sponsored open working hunter section with Cathy Geoghegan taking charge of phase two.

Working hunters

Their champion was the Sophie Cusack-ridden Clareville Codiac who, en route to claiming the title, and the Jim Lilley cup, had finished second in the 153cm class to Lucy Donnelly and her father Eoin’s ISH mare Tinraher Aggie, a 10-year-old dun daughter of Killea Hill View. The reserve champion was the 133cm class winner Bowmount Rusty, an 18-year-old palomino gelding ridden by Nancy Caffrey for her mother Mary.

Sunday’s win was just the latest in a long line of championship successes for the Oorla Cusack-owned Connemara gelding Clareville Codiac. The 14-year-old grey by Caherlistrane Bay, who was bred in Co Galway by John Tierney out of the Slisneoir mare Tegan, started off this season by winning the 153cm final of the IPS Sports Pony Challenge at Killossery Lodge Stud.

Derby champion

The weather had improved greatly when Quirke, who is now facing into a busy season of thoroughbred yearling sales, and Geoghegan finished off their day in Ring 1 by crowning their TRM Derby champion and reserve over another Felim O’Dowd-built track.

Here, Cusack and Clareville Codiac won their 153cm class but the judges selected their champion from the Connemara class where the final line-up was headed by Maggi Caffrey riding her father Mark’s well-known, and much beribboned, gelding Illaunurra Bay. Bred in Co Galway by Pat O’Neill, this 14-year-old bay is by Castleside JJ Junior out of Illaunurra Heather (by Silver Shadow).

The reserve sash went to the 133cm class winner, Tullohea Tic Tac, the 14-year-old piebald gelding ridden by Chloe Doyle for Anabel Hillman.