HAVING been returned to the organisers in good time by the West Carberys’ Grace Wycherley, the Dr Anne Crowley perpetual cup is ready to be presented to the overall winner at tomorrow’s final of the Irish Pony Club Area 5 2026 Jumps Ahead league at Ballindenisk.

Going into the decider, two riders share the lead on 30 points apiece. These are Carbery’s Kate O’Driscoll and United’s Emily Mulcahy who, riding BEC Fanta and BrambleBrough Angus, won the three qualifying legs at 70cm and 90cm respectively.

Their closest rivals are Muskerry’s Emily Macken (29), West Carbery’s Orla Keane (28), Carbery’s Stephanie Fleming (26), Duhallow’s Sophia Philpott (25) and United’s Eimear O’Donnell (24).

Macken leads the 1.10m league on Kilbunny Kabana, ahead of Keane riding Caherdaniel Lucky. At 1m level, where Mulcahy also tops the leaderboard on 29 points with BrambleBrough Angus, she is being most closely chased by two Carbery Branch members, Maria Fleming Hand on Anbally Silver Grey (17) and Annalise McSweeney riding Lislee Lucy (16).

With her 30 points, Mulcahy is well ahead in the 90cm league as Duhallow’s Siún Fleming (Alfie IX) and United’s Oisin O’Donnell (AC Remus) are some way adrift on 18 and 15.

Duhallow’s Philpott earned her 25 points in the 80cm league on board Kilbeg Tommy, who won the first qualifier. At this level, the second leg winners, Carbery’s O’Driscoll on BEC Fanta, are on 20 points ahead of the third-round winners, Duhallow’s Sean Quish with Cúlbán TLC (18).

Kate O’Driscoll’s nearest rivals in the 70cm league are West Waterford’s Abigail Higgins riding Beechfield Lass (22) and Duhallow’s Aidan Quish with Tableybrook Henry (21).

Having finished third first time out and second at the next two qualifiers, Carbery’s Stephanie Fleming leads the 60cm league on Miss Money Penny (26), ahead of the United pair Eimear O’Donnell with Faeritale Hairy Potter (24) and Senan O’Brien on Elegant Appraisal (21).

The league and final prizes are being generously sponsored by O’Brien’s Saddlery, with Cooney’s Gala Coachford kindly sponsoring the best turned-out awards in each class tomorrow.

Dressage at Ballindenisk

The Fell family’s popular Ballindenisk will be the venue on Saturday, November 28th for a dressage competition being organised by the Irish Pony Club and restricted to a maximum of 120 entries.

The tests being used are British Eventing BE Novice Test 114 (2016), BE Test 108 (2016), BE Test 94 (2023), the IPC Pre Novice Test (2019) and Dressage Ireland’s Introductory Test A (2017). It’s recommended that members ride two tests, a warm-up test with feedback from judges plus a second, and different, competition test.

Entries (on Area 5’s itsplainsailing page) open today at 3pm and close at 11pm on Saturday, November 21st. Rosettes and prizes will be awarded for the competition tests.

IPC conference

The Irish Pony Club’s annual conference takes place on Saturday next, November 14th, in Lawlor’s Hotel, Naas. The conference is open to Branch committee members, discipline committee members and Area representatives. Booking is required through the organisation’s itsplainsailing page.