WHILE wishing the best of luck to all the senior Irish riders competing in the 5* event at the Defender Burghley horse trials this weekend, we extend that to those young Irish riders, most of them Pony Club members, who are competing at the Lincolnshire venue tomorrow (Sunday).

These young competitors are taking on the challenge of the BSPS TopSpec Gold Cup sports pony final which starts at 8.30am in the House Arena.

There are three classes on the schedule with the first and second prize winners going through to the late afternoon’s championship.

This is a three-phase competition (dressage, working sports pony and show jumping) similar to the IPS’s sports pony challenge.

Qualified

Nancy Lyons Teehan, a member of the North Kilkenny Branch of the IPC and, like the others, a member of the Irish Pony Society, has qualified for the opening 143cm class with her mother Louise’s palomino mare Dartans Séoda Bán who is just a five-year-old.

The other 10 ponies entered are aged between eight and 20 years of age.

There are 13 entries in the 153cm class for riders up to 17 including Lyons Teehan with Louise’s 13-year-old chesnut mare Newydd Lady Marmalade (by Penbee Starlight Express).

Also entered is the Maeve Kennedy-owned, Evie Kennedy-ridden Connemara gelding Little Dromin Phoenix, a 16-year-old grey son of Lettermuckoo Lad. Kennedy junior is a member of the Tipperary Hunt Branch of the IPC.

Among the 12 entries for the 153cm class for riders up to 20 are two combinations from Northern Ireland.

These are Iveagh Branch member Lucy Donnan and her home-bred Connemara gelding Killaughey Super Sonic, an eight-year-old grey by Coosheen Stormboy, and Sarah McPolin with her father Jason’s Connemara gelding Magic Rhythm, a 14-year-old bay by Derroe Champ.