CLEAR rounds proved elusive at Junior level at last Saturday’s Mackey-sponsored Irish Pony Club national hunter trials championships in Ballycahane Equestrian.

None were recorded in the teams of three, where the Duhallow Branch claimed the honours through their Duchesses trio, whose 10-fault round was timed at 4.31. The team comprised Siun Fleming riding Alfie IX, Aoife Walsh with the five-year-old Connemara gelding Nevins Phoenix (Aniar Cashel - Nevin’s Rose, by Drumbad Fletcher Moss) and Aine Fleming riding Ballyerk Smoothy.

Bidding to complete a double, the Killinick Branch had to settle for second when Ruby Cousins (Jumpingdale Peanut), Isabelle Bates (Firefly Kadie) and Lucy Day (Kilkisheen Girl), who faulted at the same two fences (five and 18), stopped the clock on 4.47. The Carbery Crazy Crackers, composed of Maria Fleming Hand, Annalise McSweeney and Laoise Hurley, also picked up 10 faults, but in 6.06 to finish third. Four of the five teams completed.

Seven of the 25 pairs failed to finish and, of those who did, only two managed to do so without picking up jumping faults.

Championships

The faster of these, and so winners of the Sarah Miller trophy, were the Carbery Chicks, who were home clear in 4.57. Prize winners at last month’s national eventing championships, Vivienne Draper again rode the 16-year-old Connemara mare D’Arcy Roxy Girl (William’s Boy - Rosemount Roxy, by Castlestrange Fionn) and Maggie McCarthy stuck with the 10-year-old grey gelding Culfin Tom.

Finishing second in 4.59 were the experienced Kildare KitKats pair of Nia Webbon (Bruckless Elmar) and Pippa Dunne (Meelicks River). The fastest (3.59) of the seven pairs on five faults (all picked up at the knockable 18) were North Kilkenny’s Pixie and Eabha Murphy riding My Tangles Got To Love Him and Lady respectively.

Fence 18 caught out many of the 89 starters in the Junior singles, but not the majority of the 15 who were eliminated, as their problems came much earlier on the course.

Brooke Sutton McGarry, who was on the third-placed Wexford Wildberries quartet in the Junior team competition at the national eventing championships at Tattersalls Ireland and since finished second in the 90cm Classic show jumping final at CoilÓg, recorded the fastest of 27 clear rounds in the Junior singles championship.

Her partner at all three venues was the 10-year-old appaloosa mare Castle Ellis Lil, on whom she stopped the clock on 4.03.

The Duhallows’ David Flannery slotted into second with Ballycoskery Bedazzled (4.08), ahead of the locally-based Ward Union Branch member Lillian Ward riding Killea Peril (4.09).