GRACE Day was well-rewarded for her trip from Co Wexford over to the Mackey Equestrian/Irish Pony Club hunter trials championships at Ballycahane last Saturday.

Firstly, she joined forces with fellow Killinick Branch member Niamh Ryan, who was on board Rua, to win the 16-strong Intro Intermediate pairs’ competition with much the fastest of three clear rounds (4.41m). The Scarteen sisters, Hannah and Sarah O’Connor, finished second in 5.27 with The Kingdom’s Pink Pony Club duo of Ruby Mullins and Niamh Cullotty slotting into third (5.55).

Day then claimed the title of individual Intro Intermediate champion as she comfortably saw off her 41 rivals when home clear in 4.22. Mullins guided Major General into the runner-up slot (4.46) with Alyssa Culbert of the North Tipperary and Ormond Branch finishing third on Lowertown Miss Elsie (5.06).

As has been the case in the past couple of seasons, Day’s willing partner in these exploits was the ex-racehorse Ask Jim, a 14-year-old bay gelding by Germany who failed to worry the judge in three point-to-point maidens and a maiden hurdle between late October 2016 and mid-July the following year.

They had a third win of sorts on Saturday as Day was the recipient of a €100 training voucher sponsored by Treo Eile for riding the highest-placed thoroughbred at Junior level.

There was a similar type of double for the Golden Vales’ Breandán Purcell on Spiderman at Under 12s’ level but here the optimum time rule (4.37) was brought into play.

Competing as the Branch’s Gun Slingers duo, Purcell and Saoirse Lee riding Forgotten Teddy divided the spoils in the 19-strong pairs’ championship when stopping the clock on 4.55 as did The Kingdoms’ Twice The Spice riders Saibh Prenderville (Sunny Girl) and Grainne Donegan (Tonnaghs Fancy). The Killinicks were point-collecting here too when third through their Yellow duo Shannon Griffith (Curraghmore Sparrow) and Saoirse Cousins (Lockstown Echo Star).

When the individual times were scrutinised in the Under 12s’ 58-runner singles’ championship, Purcell proved unbeatable coming home one second under the optimum.

There was a divide for the runner-up spot between Duhallow’s Jamie Cronin and Scarteen’s Meg Ryan who finished two seconds over the optimum on Dromsligo Ros and Leadmore Breeze respectively.